Lok Sabha clears transgender bill that redefines eligibility for legal protection
India Today
The Lok Sabha has cleared a key amendment to India's transgender rights law, marking a significant shift in how the community is defined.
The Lok Sabha on Tuesday passed The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, 2026. The bill seeks to amend the existing 2019 law by redefining who qualifies as a transgender person, introducing stricter punishments for offences, and setting up a system for identity certification.
The bill has triggered a sharp political divide, with the government defending it as a step towards clearer protections and the Opposition calling it “regressive” and unconstitutional.
Replying to the debate, Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Virendra Kumar said the amendment is aimed at ensuring that “only those who face social boycott due to biological issues” receive protection under the law.
He argued that a more precise definition was needed so that benefits reach the intended community.
“To ensure that transgender persons can avail themselves of the benefits of this Act, it was necessary to provide a precise definition,” Kumar said.
The bill introduces graded punishments based on the severity of harm caused, increasing the maximum jail term from two years under the 2019 law to up to 14 years in serious cases of offences against the transgender persons.
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