Section Article

Gender Identity and Transgender Rights in India: A Human Rights Approach
Author(s): Yougesh Bhosle

Abstract
The recognition and protection of transgender rights in India mark a critical intersection of law culture and human rights. For decades the transgender community has endured systemic discrimination social exclusion and legal invisibility. However recent legal and policy developments especially following the landmark 2014 NALSA judgment and the enactment of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act in 2019 signal a significant yet contested shift toward inclusion and equality. This research paper examines transgender rights in India through a human rights framework focusing on the legal recognition of gender identity access to socio-economic entitlements and the cultural barriers that continue to impede substantive equality. The paper also evaluates Indias commitments under international human rights law and explores the socio-legal reforms needed to ensure dignity autonomy and justice for the transgender community. While legal reforms have created a foundation for progress the realization of transgender rights in practice requires an intersectional and participatory approach that centers lived experiences and challenges systemic oppression.