Many families who plan IVF or surrogacy ask the same worry: "Is this clinic legal?" Many students and clinic staff ask a second one: "Where are the official rules?" The Government of India built a website for exactly these questions.
This guide explains the National ART & Surrogacy Portal in plain words. You will learn who runs it, what each section holds, how to check a clinic's registration, and where to find the latest rules.
Quick Summary
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The portal is run by the Department of Health Research under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
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It hosts the National ART & Surrogacy Registry, a public list of registered clinics and banks.
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You can check a clinic's registration number and certificate on the registry.
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The portal also carries the Acts, Rules, board notices, appeal pages, and FAQs.
What Is the National ART & Surrogacy Portal?
The site carries the name of the Department of Health Research, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India. It is designed and hosted by the National Informatics Centre, while the Department of Health Research provides and updates the information. artsurrogacyartsurrogacy
Its stated mandate is to regulate and supervise ART clinics and ART banks, regulate the practice of surrogacy, and prevent misuse, so that ART services are safe and ethical. In short, it is the government's front door for fertility and surrogacy rules. artsurrogacy
Two Laws Behind the Portal
Two Acts, both from 2021, sit behind the site:
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The ART (Regulation) Act, 2021. The portal describes it as a law for the regulation and supervision of ART clinics and ART banks, and for safe and ethical ART practice. artsurrogacy
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The Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2021. It sets up the National and State ART and Surrogacy Boards and appoints appropriate authorities to regulate how surrogacy is practised. artsurrogacy
Here, ART covers any method that works with sperm or eggs outside the body and then puts the gamete or embryo into a woman's reproductive system to reach a pregnancy. artsurrogacy
What You Will Find on the Portal
The menu bar lists these main parts:
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About Us: the National Registry, the mandate, and department officials
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Boards & Authorities: the National Boards, State Appropriate Authorities, and State Boards
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Notifications: board orders, the Acts, and the Rules
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Appeal: pages for appeals to states and union territories
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Permission for transfer of embryos or gametes: a separate page for this request
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FAQs, feedback, and contact details
The portal's own menu lists all of these parts. The home page also explains common terms such as IVF, IUI, ICSI, and gamete donation. artsurrogacy
Latest Updates Posted in 2026
The notification list at the time of writing shows amendment rules for both ART and Surrogacy dated 2026, and a notice from March 2026 about a comprehensive review of both Acts. artsurrogacy
One 2026 change is easy to explain. The ART amendment of 17 June 2026 sets how registration fees must be paid and says clinics and banks must apply for renewal through the National Registry portal at least 60 days before their registration ends. I could read the full text only for this one, so open the other notices yourself for their exact terms. PolicyIndex
National ART & Surrogacy Registry
The registry is the working heart of the portal. It is an online public record of ART clinics, ART banks, and surrogacy clinics across India. It collects details such as the services each place offers and their outcomes. The National Board then uses this data to make policy and guidelines and to spot new research areas. National art & Surrogacy Portal +2
The registry dashboard also shows numbers. At the time of writing, it lists 8,083 ART clinic applications received, 4,640 registered, and 1,567 rejected. These figures change often, so treat them as a snapshot. artsurrogacy
How Clinics and Banks Register
A clinic follows these steps, as the registry describes them:
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Sign up for an account on the registry site.
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Click the link in the confirmation email.
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Log in and fill in the application form.
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Print the form, sign it, and send it to the state's appropriate authority within seven days of submitting it online, along with the fee.
The registry's own instructions ask for the signed printout and fee to reach the appropriate authority within 7 days of online submission. artsurrogacy
Clinics also come in two levels. Level 1 clinics carry out only intrauterine insemination (IUI), while Level 2 clinics perform the wider ART procedures. A Level 2 clinic must have at least one gynaecologist, one anaesthetist, one embryologist, and one counsellor. VconceiveLegitQuest
How to Use the National ART & Surrogacy Portal to Check a Clinic
Before you pay for treatment, spend ten minutes on this check:
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Open the registry from the portal's home page.
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Choose the list of registered clinics and banks.
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Look for the clinic by name, city, or state.
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Read the registration number and open the certificate. The list shows the clinic name, address, state, email, registration number, and a link to download the certificate. artsurrogacy
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Compare it with the certificate on display at the clinic.
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If the clinic is missing or the details differ, ask the clinic to explain, and contact the state's appropriate authority.
Two cautions apply. A large list can lag behind real life, so a missing name is a reason to ask questions, not proof of wrongdoing. Also, a Level 1 clinic should not be offering IVF, so look at the level code in the registration number, such as L1 or L2, and match it to the service you want. artsurrogacy
Boards and Authorities: Who Does What
Three bodies appear on the portal, and each has a different job:
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National ART & Surrogacy Board: makes policy and guidelines, using registry data.
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State Boards: the boards set up in each state or union territory.
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State Appropriate Authorities: receive clinic applications and deal with registration in the state.
The registry's steps confirm that applications go to the Appropriate Authority of the state or union territory. artsurrogacy
Transfer of Gametes and Embryos
Some people need to move their frozen sperm, eggs, or embryos to another clinic, within India or abroad. A 2023 amendment added a rule for this. It says anyone who wants to transfer their own gametes or embryos for personal use must apply or file a declaration in Forms 16 to 24 and get prior permission from the National Board. The portal has a page for it, and the registry has a separate sign-up and login for NOC applicants. SCC Timesartsurrogacy
Appeals
If a clinic's application is turned down, the law allows an appeal. The Rules say the appeal format is Form 9, and the portal has pages for appeals to the concerned states and union territories. High Court of Tripura
Simple Words to Know
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IVF: eggs and sperm meet outside the body, and the embryo is placed in the womb later.
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IUI: sperm that has been prepared in a lab is placed into the womb. artsurrogacy
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ICSI: one sperm is injected straight into the egg. artsurrogacy
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PGT: a test that checks embryo DNA for genetic problems.
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Gamete donation: a person gives sperm or eggs to help another person or couple have a child.
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Altruistic surrogacy: the portal defines it as surrogacy where the surrogate mother receives no fee or reward, apart from medical costs and insurance. artsurrogacy
Tips for Patients and Families
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Check registration first. Use the steps above before you pay any advance.
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Ask for the level. Match the clinic's level to your treatment.
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Read every consent form. The Rules include set forms, for example for freezing embryos, freezing gametes, and egg retrieval. High Court of Tripura
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Get costs in writing. Ask what each cycle, test, and freezing year will cost.
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Say no to sex selection. Clinics are prohibited from advertising or offering sex-selective ART. CivilsDaily
Tips for Clinics, Banks, and Staff
Registered clinics must also keep a grievance cell to handle complaints from couples, donors, and surrogate mothers. Track your renewal date, since the 2026 amendment asks for renewal at least 60 days ahead. Staff qualifications matter too. For example, the 2022 Rules ask for a postgraduate in clinical embryology from a full-time programme of at least four semesters, plus three years of ART lab experience, among other routes. Read the notified text before you hire. VconceiveLegitQuest
What the Portal Does Not Do
The portal is not a doctor, a lawyer, or a hospital finder with reviews. It will not tell you which treatment suits you or which clinic has the best results. Some pages may also update more slowly than the Notifications section. For medical choices, see a qualified fertility doctor. For legal questions about surrogacy or gamete transfer, speak to a lawyer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the registry open to the public?
Yes. Its registered-clinic lists can be viewed online, with a certificate link for each entry.
Does a registration number prove a clinic is good?
No. It shows the clinic is on the register. It says nothing about success rates or fees, so ask about those separately.
What is a Level 1 or Level 2 clinic?
A Level 1 clinic does only IUI. A Level 2 clinic performs wider ART procedures, such as IVF.
Where can I read the latest rules?
Open the Notifications section of the portal, then choose Acts or Rules. Check the dates, because amendments arrive often.
Final Words
The National ART & Surrogacy Portal gives families, students, and clinic teams one official place to check the rules, the registry, and the latest notices. Use it before you commit to a clinic, and return to it when the law changes.
Sources to check: National ART & Surrogacy Portal (artsurrogacy.gov.in); National ART & Surrogacy Registry (registry.artsurrogacy.gov.in); Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Act, 2021; Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2021; ART (Regulation) Rules, 2022 and their amendments.
Please note: This article is for general information only. It is not medical or legal advice, and it is not an official government publication. Rules, forms, and registry figures change, so confirm current details on the official portal or with the appropriate authority before you act.
