In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,—

(a) “Appropriate Authority” means the Appropriate Authority appointed under section 17;

(b) “Board” means the Central Supervisory Board constituted under section 7;

(c) “Genetic Counselling Centre” means an institute, hospital, nursing home or any place, by whatever name called, which provides for genetic counselling to patients;

(d) “Genetic Clinic” means a clinic, institute, hospital, nursing home or any place, by whatever name called, which is used for conducting pre-natal diagnostic procedures;

(e) “Genetic Laboratory” means a laboratory and includes a pleace where facilities are provided for conducting analysis or tests of samples received from Genetic Clinic for pre-natal diagnostic test;

(f) “gynaecologist” means a person who possesses a post-graduate qualification in gynaecology and obstetrics;

(g) “medical geneticist” includes a person who possesses a degree or diploma in genetic science in the fields of sex selection and pre-natal diagnostic techniques or has experience of not less than two years in any of these fields after obtaining—

(h) “paediatrician” means a person who possesses a post-graduate qualification in paediatrics;

(i) “pre-natal diagnostic procedures” means all gynaecological or obstetrical or medical procedures such as ultrasonography, foetoscopy, taking or removing samples of amniotic fluid, chorionic villi, embryo, blood or any other tissue or fluid of a man, or of a woman before or after conception, for being sent to a Genetic Laboratory or Genetic Clinic for conducting any type of analysis or pre-natal diagnostic tests for selection of sex before or after conception;

(j) “pre-natal diagnostic techniques” includes all pre-natal diagnostic procedures and pre-natal diagnostic tests;

(k) “pre-natal diagnostic test” means ultrasonography or any test or analysis of amniotic fluid, chorionic villi, blood or any tissue or fluid of a pregnant woman or conceptus conducted to detect genetic or metabolic disorders or chromosomal abnormalities or congenital anomalies or haemoglobinopathies or sex-linked diseases;]

(l) “prescribed” means prescribed by rules made under this Act;

(m) “registered medical practitioner” means a medical practitioner who possesses any recognised medical qualification as defined in clause (h) of section 2 of the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956 (102 of 1956), and whose name has been entered in a State Medical Register;

(n) “regulations” means regulations framed by the Board under this Act;

(o) “sex selection” includes any procedure, technique, test or administration or prescription or provision of anything for the purpose of ensuring or increasing the probability that an embryo will be of a particular sex;

(p) “sonologist or imaging specialist” means a person who possesses any one of the medical qualifications recognised under the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956 (102 of 1956) or who possesses a post-graduate qualification in ultrasonography or imaging techniques or radiology;

(q) “State Board” means a State Supervisory Board or a Union territory Supervisory Board constituted under section 16A;

(r) “State Government” in relation to Union territory with Legislature means the Administrator of that Union territory appointed by the President under article 239 of Constitution.