India is proposing an outright ban on foreigners seeking surrogacy services there.

According to The Guardian newspaper, in the wake of a court challenge earlier in October to the commercial surrogacy issue nationwide, the Indian government was called upon to finally move towards some form of regulation of an industry which is said to be worth €126 million, a figure growing at a rate of 20% annually. Critics have denounced the exploitation of impoverished Indian women in what is referred to as a ‘rent-a-womb’ scheme for infertile couples and individuals.

In response, government has now submitted to the Supreme Court proposed legislation, the Assisted Reproductive Technology Bill, which will tighten controls on surrogacy and enact a total ban on services for foreigners.