No, Amniocentesis is not fully banned in India. But, the technique of Amniocentesis itself is banned in the country because, in some instances, it has been used for prenatal sex determination, which has and can result in female feticide. So to prevent that, the technique of this test is banned in the country. Plain and simple!
Well, there are quite a few people who, due to the existence of stringent regulations in India on the issues of sex identification and female foeticide, are confused and feel that the test is banned. Is it though? The thing is, the principal issue is not the conduct of amniocentesis but the wrong use of it.
Amniocentesis is definitely permitted if the aim is to identify the fetus’s health or to find out if the baby has any genetic or chromosomal disorders. Though, the thing is, it is still not permissible to employ it in order to ascertain the infant’s sex. The legislation managing this is the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act, and it’s what regulates all the operations.
Amniocentesis is essentially a diagnostic method that allows the medical team to examine the fetal development of the fetus. The surgeon executes the visualization of the baby's space with ultrasound imaging and thereafter places the delicate needle to extract a small volume of amniotic fluid from the area surrounding the baby. And what good use is that?
The fluid is a host to some cells, and these cells can be checked to find genetic diseases, abnormalities in chromosomes, and infections. Generally, a doctor may suggest the test if the results of other screenings or the family history indicate the chance of complications. Essentially, the test is performed after 15 weeks of pregnancy.