Government Highlights Ongoing Legal Protections and Welfare Measures for Transgender Persons
SDG 5: Gender Equality | SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
Institutions: Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment | National Council for Transgender Persons
The Government of India has outlined a comprehensive framework of legal recognition, welfare provisions and institutional mechanisms to safeguard the rights of transgender persons, building on constitutional protections under Articles 14, 15, 16, 19 and 21. The press release reaffirms landmark progress since the NALSA judgment (2014), which recognised transgender persons as a “third gender” and directed the State to ensure equality and non-discrimination.
The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019, operational from 10 January 2020, and the accompanying Rules (2020) form the backbone of India’s transgender-rights regime. Key provisions include the right to self-perceived gender identity, protection from discrimination in education, employment, residence and healthcare, and mandatory establishment of welfare measures, complaint officers and grievance mechanisms. As of 2025, 25 Transgender Welfare Boards and 20 Transgender Protection Cells have been set up across states/UTs to monitor offences, ensure FIRs, and coordinate welfare delivery.
Digital governance has been strengthened through the National Portal for Transgender Persons, enabling multilingual, end-to-end online applications for identity certificates and access to schemes. Welfare measures have expanded under the SMILE scheme (2022), which supports livelihood and skill development, offers Ayushman Bharat TG Plus health coverage (₹5 lakh annually, including gender-affirming care), and provides safe housing through Garima Greh shelters (21 operational, 3 newly sanctioned).
These reforms reflect a whole-of-government effort to mainstream transgender persons, reduce stigma, and integrate them into welfare, education, health and employment systems. The continuing capacity-building programmes, national campaigns and legal-awareness efforts signal a sustained commitment to inclusion and dignity.
Effective implementation of the Act and SMILE scheme is central to India’s goal of ensuring an inclusive welfare state and fulfilling constitutional guarantees of equality. Strengthening state-level protection cells, digital certification, health coverage and livelihood pathways will determine the extent to which transgender persons can access justice, secure identity documents and benefit from mainstream schemes. This framework advances SDG 5 and SDG 10 by closing systemic gaps, protecting vulnerable groups and ensuring fair access to opportunity and social protection.
What is the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019?→ It is a national law that provides legal recognition to transgender persons, prohibits discrimination, guarantees the right to self-identified gender, mandates welfare schemes, establishes complaint mechanisms, and creates the National Council for Transgender Persons to advise and monitor implementation.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders: How can states expand access to health, housing and livelihood schemes so that transgender persons experience meaningful inclusion rather than only legal recognition?
Follow the full news here: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2191532