Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues (Amendment) Rules, 2025
Table of Contents
Source: PIB, The Hindu
Relevance: Quick Facts for Prelims, GS Paper II – Health – Government Policies and Interventions
Key Concepts for Prelims and Mains:
For Prelims:
- Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues (Amendment) Rules, 2025
- Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act (THOTA), 1994
- National Organ Transplant Programme (NOTP)
- National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO)
- Regional (ROTTO) and State (SOTTO) Organ Transplant Organisations
For Mains:
- Health policy reforms and equitable access to medical care
- Organ and tissue transplantation ethics and regulation
Why in News?
The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare notified the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues (Amendment) Rules, 2025 on 6 November 2025 under the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act, 1994, to simplify rules governing corneal transplantation and promote equitable access to organ and tissue donation services across India.
Key Highlights of the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues (Amendment) Rules, 2025
- Removed Equipment Mandate: The mandatory requirement of Clinical Specular Microscope in corneal transplantation centres has been removed.
- Rationale: These microscopes were costly and difficult for small or rural eye centres to procure.
- Expected Outcome:
- Eases infrastructural and operational challenges for smaller hospitals.
- Expands access to corneal transplant services across the country.
- Consultation Process: The rule change followed expert recommendations and stakeholder consultations.
- Strengthens: The amendment reinforces the National Organ Transplant Programme (NOTP) and promotes wider participation in eye donation.
About the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act (THOTA), 1994
- Objective: To regulate the removal, storage, and transplantation of human organs and tissues for therapeutic purposes and prevent commercial dealings in organs.
- Background: Framed after rising illegal organ trade, based on Dr. L. M. Singhvi Committee (1991) recommendations.
- Key Features:
- Defines donor, recipient, and near relative.
- Organ removal permitted only with informed consent.
- Establishes Authorization Committees and Ethical Oversight.
- Major Amendments:
- 2011 Amendment: Expanded scope to include tissues.
- 2025 Amendment: Simplifies rules for corneal transplantation.
- Implementation and Adoption by States: Since health is a state subject, states must adopt the Act for it to be applicable.
- The 1994 Act applies to all States and Union Territories, except Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, which have their own laws.
About National Organ Transplant Programme (NOTP)
- Launched by: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
- Objective: Promote equitable access to organ and tissue donation across India.
- Institutional Framework:
- NOTTO – Apex body in New Delhi.
- ROTTOs & SOTTOs – Regional and State implementation agencies.
- Achievements:
- Organ transplants in India increased from 4,990 (2013) to 18,911 (2024).
- India ranks 3rd globally in total transplants and 1st in living donors.
Structural Anatomy of the Eye: External and Internal Components
External Parts of the Eye
- Eyelid: Protects the eye from dust, injury, and excessive light; helps spread tears across the surface.
- Pupil: The black circular opening in the centre; regulates the amount of light entering the eye.
- Iris: The coloured part surrounding the pupil; controls pupil size using its muscles.
- Sclera: The white, tough outer layer providing structural protection.
Internal Anatomy (Cross-Section)
Cornea
- Transparent, dome-shaped front layer.
- Main refractive surface of the eye (bends incoming light).
Lens
- Transparent, flexible structure behind the iris.
- Changes shape for accommodation (focusing near and far objects).
Ciliary Body
- Contains ciliary muscles that adjust the lens.
- Produces aqueous humour.
Vitreous Humor
- Gel-like material filling the large posterior cavity.
- Maintains shape and supports the retina.
Retina
- Innermost, light-sensitive layer containing rods and cones.
- Converts light into neural signals.
Choroid
- Vascular middle layer between retina and sclera.
- Supplies oxygen and nutrients to the retina.
Optic Nerve
- Carries visual signals from the retina to the brain.
- Its exit point forms the blind spot.
Sclera (Internal View)
Thick, fibrous white outer layer giving mechanical strength.
Significance
- Boosts Eye Donation Ecosystem: Encourages more eye banks and hospitals to perform transplants.
- Equitable Healthcare: Enables small and semi-urban centres to offer corneal surgeries.
- Addresses Corneal Blindness: Helps reduce the burden of 1.2 million corneal blindness cases, with 25,000–30,000 new cases annually (IJO, 2024).
- Streamlined Regulation: Promotes efficiency under NOTTO–ROTTO–SOTTO network.
- Public Health Impact: Enhances accessibility and affordability of vision-restoring surgeries.
Way Forward
- Ensure implementation support for small and rural hospitals.
- Launch awareness campaigns on eye donation.
- Strengthen infrastructure funding under NOTP.
- Introduce AI-based national registry for real-time donor–recipient matching.
- Promote public–private partnerships in eye banking.
Conclusion
The 2025 Amendment marks a crucial step toward inclusive, equitable, and efficient healthcare delivery by simplifying medical regulations and empowering smaller centres. It reinforces India’s commitment to ethical organ donation and universal access to vision-restoring care.
UPSC PYQ
Q1. Consider the following statements: (2020)
- Genetic changes can be introduced in the cells that produce eggs or sperms of a prospective parent.
- A person’s genome can be edited before birth at the early embryonic stage.
- Human induced pluripotent stem cells can be injected into the embryo of a pig.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 2 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Ans: (d)
Q2. With reference to the scientific progress of ancient India, which of the statements given below are correct? (2012)
- Different kinds of specialised surgical instruments were in common use by the 1st century AD.
- Transplant of internal organs in the human body had begun by the beginning of the 3rd century AD.
- The concept of sine of an angle was known in 5th century AD.
- The concept of cyclic quadrilaterals was known in 7th century AD.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 3 and 4 only
(c) 1, 3 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Ans: (c)
CARE MCQ
- With reference to the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues (Amendment) Rules, 2025, consider the following statements:
- The amendment removes the mandatory requirement of Clinical Specular Microscope in corneal transplantation centres.
- It was notified under the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act, 1994.
- The amendment aims to expand access to corneal transplantation in rural and semi-urban areas.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 3 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3
Explanation:
The amendment under THOTA, 1994 removes mandatory equipment requirements, supporting equitable access and improving availability of corneal transplant services across India.
