The legal framework
Contraception is provided free through the National Family Planning Programme at public health facilities, including condoms, oral pills, IUDs, injectables and sterilisation. Historically dominated by female sterilisation, the programme has expanded spacing methods, including the injectable Antara and the weekly pill Chhaya.
Key points
| Cost | Free in government facilities; incentives are paid for sterilisation |
|---|---|
| Methods | Condoms, oral pills, emergency pills, IUDs, injectables, implants in some states, and sterilisation |
| Emergency contraception | Available over the counter in pharmacies |
| Consent | Spousal consent is not legally required for contraception |
| ASHA workers | Community health workers deliver condoms and pills at village level |
| Adolescents | Served through adolescent-friendly health clinics, though access remains uneven |
| Sterilisation | Standards were tightened after the Supreme Court's ruling in Devika Biswas |
| National programme | Contraceptives are distributed free through public health facilities |
| Injectable | The three-monthly injectable has been added to the public basket |
In practice
- Ask about long-acting methods — implants and IUDs are the most effective and often the cheapest over time.
- Check contraindications: smoking over 35, migraine with aura and a history of clots rule out combined methods.
- Keep emergency contraception at home; the sooner it is taken, the better it works.
- Only condoms also protect against sexually transmitted infections.
- ASHA workers distribute contraceptives locally and can arrange clinic appointments discreetly.
- Ask for a long-acting method if repeated clinic visits are difficult.
Cost and coverage
Free in public facilities; low cost in the private sector and pharmacies.
Recent changes
Policy has shifted towards expanding the method mix and improving quality of care, after decades in which sterilisation dominated.
Where to go
- Government primary health centres and district hospitals.
- ASHA and ANM community health workers.
- Family Planning Association of India clinics.
Worth knowing
No law requires a husband's consent for contraception. If a provider asks for it, that is a practice, not a legal requirement — and worth raising with the facility in charge. Spousal consent is not a legal requirement for contraception, though facilities sometimes ask for it. You can refuse and ask for the request in writing.
Official sources and links
- India.gov.in — national portal of India
- India Code — central and state legislation