The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Act, 2026, passed in India, has sparked significant controversy due to its restrictive definition of 'transgender,' which now includes only 'intersex persons,' the term 'eunuchs,' and four specific socio-cultural identities: Hijra, Kinnar, Jogta, and Aravani. This exclusion of trans men and other regional identities contradicts the Supreme Court's 2014 NALSA judgment, which recognized a broader spectrum of gender identities. The Act imposes harsh penalties, ranging from a minimum of 10 years to life imprisonment, for 'kidnapping' individuals to adopt a transgender identity, reflecting a troubling trend of criminalizing diverse gender expressions. Additionally, Section 7 mandates that medical institutions report details of gender-affirming surgeries to local authorities, raising serious concerns about privacy and the potential for surveillance of transgender individuals. Critics argue that the Act undermines the constitutional rights of transgender people and perpetuates colonial-era stereotypes, particularly against Hijra communities. The law's reliance on mythological narratives rather than constitutional principles highlights a significant regression in the recognition of transgender rights in India.