The statutory ban on amniocentesis was necessary in India due to:

The correct answer is Option (3) → Sex determination to check increasing menace of female foeticides

Amniocentesis is a test in which a little amniotic fluid, the fluid around the developing foetus, is taken out and its cells are studied. It can find genetic disorders such as Down syndrome, haemophilia and sickle-cell anaemia. It also shows the sex of the foetus, and this part of the test was misused.

(1) Proper development of foetus — Incorrect. The ban was not meant for this. The test itself is a way of checking the foetus.

(2) Diagnosis of chromosomal aberrations in foetus — Incorrect. This is the proper medical use of the test, and it is allowed. Only its use for finding the sex is banned.

(3) Sex determination to check increasing menace of female foeticides — Correct. Foetuses found to be female were often aborted, so the law banned the test for sex determination.

(4) Sex determination to check increasing menace of male foeticides — Incorrect. The misuse was against female foetuses, not male ones.

NCERT Extract:
Reproductive Health – Problems and Strategies – “… 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.”