Amid criticisms of ‘reversing progress’, President gives assent to Transgender Persons Bill

Several activists, lawyers, transgender people and other allies had already raised concerns regarding the Bill, and had also written to the President urging her to withhold assent.

Published Mar 31, 2026 | 8:34 AM ⚊ Updated Mar 31, 2026 | 8:34 AM

President Droupadi Murmu addressing the Lok Sabha.

Synopsis: President Droupadi Murmu gave her assent to the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, making it an Act. Meanwhile, several people continue to raise objections against the legislation, pointing to its alleged regressive provisions.

President Droupadi Murmu gave her assent to the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill on Monday, 30 March, said the Union Law Ministry in a gazette notification.

Following the President’s assent, the Bill has now become an Act.

The Bill was passed in the Rajya Sabha on 25 March, a day after the Lok Sabha cleared it. The Opposition had demanded that the Bill be sent to a select committee of the House for further scrutiny, as it had provisions that would have an impact on the dignity of transgender persons.

Several activists, lawyers, transgender people and other allies had already raised concerns regarding the Bill, and had also written to the President urging her to withhold assent.

Also Read: Supreme Court-appointed panel asks Centre to reconsider Transgender Persons Bill

Voices against the Act

After the President gave her assent to Bill, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) spokesperson and LGBTQIA+ rights activist Anish Gawande said that it was one of the most regressive pieces of legislation on transgender rights in the world.

“Unfortunate that President Murmu has given her assent to the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill 2026. The Act is now one of the most regressive pieces of legislation on transgender rights in the world. To see India reverse decades of progress is shameful,” Gawande wrote on X.

Historian and Columbia University Assistant Professor Samyak Ghosh said the development proves that only a broad-based political movement can address such matters.

“The opposition raised its voice in the parliament. They were ignored. Once again proves that ONLY a broad-base political movement can address such matters. But, that isn’t possible without a political language of LGBTQ+ activism in India, which remains far from being realised,” Ghosh wrote on X.

AAP leader Ruben Mascarenhas said India has now joined “the ignominious club of countries with some of the worst human rights abuses”.

“Sad that President Murmu has given her assent to the Transgender Persons Amendment Bill. The medieval legislation is now officially law. One of the most regressive legislations ever, India joins the ignominious club of countries with some of the worst human rights abuses,” he wrote on X.

One of the key concerns against the Bill, now Act, is the narrowed definition of transgender persons that excludes trans men, trans women, non-binary, and genderqueer individuals without medical diagnoses or socio-cultural identities.

It also provides for the removal of protections for self-perceived identity, contradicting constitutional guarantees.