Our rigorous 6-pillar evaluation framework independently assesses embryology lab standards, cleanroom ISO certifications, senior specialist credentials, and transparent pricing benchmarks.
We check each centre against specifics you can verify yourself. Its registration number on the national registry. The level of that registration. The qualifications of its embryologist. Its record-keeping and grievance systems. This page lists those specifics. It also gives you the exact questions to ask any centre, and the answers a compliant centre should give.
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It is important for every ART clinic or bank in India to get registered before they start providing services. The official database for all ART banks and clinics is the National ART and Surrogacy Registry, also known as NARTSR. Getting registered with NARTSR is not optional, and operating without a registration is a prohibited offence under the ART Regulation Act of 2021.
A registered centre receives a registration certificate that it must display on the premises. Ask to see it. The number follows a state-coded format. One real example published by a registered clinic reads MH/AC/2024/15441/L2/Chandrapur/132. The L2 marks the registration level. You can check any centre's status directly on the NARTSR database rather than take the clinic's word for it.
We treat this as a pass-or-fail gate. A centre that cannot show a current registration number fails here. No amount of medical reputation offsets it. Our surrogacy law in India page explains the legal duties behind this.
The Act defines two registration levels. They authorise different procedures.
Level 1 clinics are authorised for intrauterine insemination (IUI) only.
Level 2 clinics are authorised for IVF and research.
Surrogacy depends on IVF, because an embryo must be created in the laboratory. A centre handling your surrogacy IVF must hold Level 2 registration. A Level 1 clinic is not authorised to run the IVF your surrogacy needs. Check the level code in the registration number. Do not assume it.
It is important that every clinic must have qualified individuals who are serving the key roles. The requirements remain very specific, and you can also check them. All you have to do is ask the clinic who holds each role, and then verify their qualifications against these standards.
Embryologist: The lab is where IVF outcomes are largely won or lost. The rules require a post-graduate in clinical embryology, from a full-time programme of at least four semesters, plus three years of human ART laboratory experience handling gametes and embryos.
Gynaecologist: The standard is a post-graduate in gynaecology and obstetrics, with at least three years in an ART clinic and a documented record of 50 ovum pickup procedures.
Andrologist: The role requires an MCh or DNB in Urology with training in male infertility.
Counsellor: The minimum is a graduate in psychology, clinical psychology, nursing, or life sciences.
Anaesthetist: The role requires a medical post-graduate in anaesthesia.
A centre that will not name the embryologist, or cannot evidence these qualifications, has told you something. Our risks & complications page explains why lab and clinical quality carry so much weight.
Good paperwork is a sign of a well-run clinic. Here are the two things you should ask about before committing:
Record keeping: A well-maintained surrogacy clinic will keep all forms, consent papers, reports, agreements, and all records for more than 25 years. You can question them about how they store records, and for how long the records are stored. If they say anything less than 25 years, then they are not following the rules.
Grievance cell: It is important for every ART clinic and bank to have a proper system which helps in handling complaints. You can ask the clinic where you had to go to file a complaint and who handles it. If the clinic never gives you a clear answer, then that means they have not set up the complaint system which the law requires.
Every ART clinic and bank must also establish and maintain a grievance cell. Ask where to raise a complaint and who handles it. A centre that cannot answer has not built the system the law requires.
Vague pricing is a warning sign. You can test transparency in one conversation. Ask these three questions and note whether the answers arrive in writing.
Ask for a line-by-line breakdown covering IVF, medications, the surrogate's medical care, her 36-month insurance, legal and documentation fees, and delivery. A compliant centre itemises these.
Ask what a failed cycle costs. A repeat cycle or a donor cycle changes the total. The answer should be specific, not "it depends".
Ask what is excluded. Reasonable exclusions exist. A centre that lists none is hiding them.
Set these answers against the structure on our surrogacy cost in India page. A centre that quotes a single all-in figure with no breakdown has not passed this test.
The law protects surrogates. Compliance is checkable through documents, not impressions. Confirm these are handled before any agreement.
The mandatory 36-month insurance for the surrogate must be arranged and evidenced. Ask to see how it is documented. Written informed consent from the surrogate is required, and sex selection is prohibited at every stage. A centre that treats these as paperwork to rush, rather than protections to honour, does not meet our standard. Our who can be a surrogate page sets out her legal position.
The framework is enforced, not advisory. The numbers tell you how seriously to take non-compliance. A first offence under the ART Act carries fines of ₹5 lakh to ₹10 lakh. Repeat violations rise to ₹10 lakh to ₹20 lakh with imprisonment of three to eight years. A centre that cuts corners is not saving you money. It is exposing your journey to real legal risk. This is why registration is the first thing we check, and the reason we will not soften it.
Our method depends on what we will not do. This keeps the guidance trustworthy.
We take no payment to promote a centre. Our guidance is not for sale.
We make no guaranteed-outcome claims, and we distrust any centre that does.
We do not rank centres by advertising spend.
We never name a single "best" centre in India. The claim is misleading, and the right centre depends on your medical situation.
You don't need us to confirm if the clinic is registered or not.
All you have to do is take the registration number and verify it on the NARTSR website.
Check if the clinic is level 2 or not.
Also, do not forget to ask about the embryologist’s qualifications.
Ask about cost
Ask about records and the grievance cell.
These steps give you a concrete, verifiable basis for a decision. Our role is to help you read the answers and weigh the trade-offs. An online consultation is where we do that with you.
Surrogacy is not only a sensitive decision but also a decision which can change your life, but the law around it is genuinely to be taken care of. We at Oji Surrogacy & IVF Care are here to help you with the commitment by providing:
Individual medical and legal assessment
Evidence-based information
Legal information based on application regulations
A clear explanation of what we can provide and can not
Respects your privacy
Does not guarantee pregnancy or treatment outcomes
This page is to share information on the general approach of how Oji Surrogacy & IVF Care evaluates a centre. This page is not a substitute for any medical or legal advice. All the registration details, qualification rules, and penalties come from the ART Regulation Act of 2021.
You may be wanting some help in reading a centre's answers and in weighing the trade-offs. We offer personalised and honest online consultations. They come with clear guidance and no misleading claims.
Understand medical criteria, tests, and treatment plans.
Insights into legal rights, documents, and compliance in India.
Guidance on emotional well-being and building support systems.
The information provided on this website is for general informational purposes only and does not substitute professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalized medical guidance.
All content on this website is written by experienced medical writers and reviewed by qualified experts to ensure accuracy, reliability, and alignment with current medical standards.