Third-party reproduction is an umbrella term covering fertility treatment that involves someone beyond the intending parent(s) directly contributing to conception or pregnancy — donor eggs, donor sperm, donor embryos, or gestational surrogacy. In India, each of these pathways is governed by statute: donor conception primarily under the ART (Regulation) Act, 2021 through registered ART banks, and surrogacy under the Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2021, which permits only altruistic gestational surrogacy for eligible intending couples/individuals and prohibits commercial surrogacy. Each pathway carries its own eligibility rules, consent requirements and registry obligations, so the specific terms (donor conception, surrogacy) should be used precisely rather than interchangeably when discussing legal rights or clinic processes. This is general information about India's ART and surrogacy framework and is not personalised legal advice. India legal information last reviewed: 9 September 2026.
Also known as: third party fertility treatment, using a donor or surrogate
Related India guides
Sources
- Indian Council of Medical Research (icmr.gov.in)
- Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Act, 2021, with the ART (Regulation) Rules and subsequent amendments and notifications (indiacode.nic.in; artsurrogacy.gov.in)
Last reviewed: 9 September 2026. Written by the Antega Editorial Team. General information only — always follow the advice of your own clinic, doctor or pharmacist.