Read the passage and answer the following questions:
Successful implementation of various action plans to attain reproductive health requires strong infrastructural facilities, professional expertise and material support. These are essential to provide medical assistance and care to people in reproduction-related problems like pregnancy, delivery, STDs, abortions, contraception, menstrual problems, infertility, etc. Implementation of better techniques and new strategies from time to time are also required to provide more efficient care and assistance to people. Statutory ban on amniocentesis for sex-determination to legally check increasing menace of female foeticides, massive child immunisation, etc., are some programmes that merit mention in this connection. In aminocentesis some of the amniotic fluid of the developing foetus is taken to analyse the fetal cells and dissolved substances.
Why is there a statutory ban on amniocentesis in India?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → It is misused to find the sex of the foetus, which leads to female foeticide.
The passage states that there is a “statutory ban on amniocentesis for sex-determination to legally check increasing menace of female foeticides”. The test can reveal the sex of the foetus, and when it is misused this way, a female foetus is often aborted. The ban is meant to stop this.
Option (1) It is used to determine the survivability of the foetus. — Incorrect. Finding the survivability of the foetus is a genuine use of amniocentesis. A genuine use is not a reason to ban a test.
Option (2) Its facilities are available only in very few centres in the country. — Incorrect. Limited availability in only a few centres is something NCERT says about assisted reproductive technologies, not about amniocentesis. It is not a reason for a legal ban.
Option (3) It is misused to find the sex of the foetus, which leads to female foeticide. — Correct. This is the reason. The misuse of amniocentesis for sex determination leads to female foeticide, which the ban checks.