Ranchi intensifies checks under the PCPNDT Act
Ranchi district conducted the highest number of inspections of ultrasound centres in Jharkhand in the first quarter of the 2026-27 financial year, carrying out 54 checks between April and June, health department data showed on Monday. The inspections were part of enforcement under the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act, aimed at curbing unlawful sex determination.
The quarter’s drive across the state covered 236 inspections in 24 districts. The intensified monitoring in Ranchi is more than double the 21 inspections the district recorded during the entire previous financial year, indicating a marked increase in local enforcement activity, the data showed.
Suspensions, sealing and arrests
The enforcement initiative resulted in the suspension of licences of two ultrasound centres — one in Ranchi and another in Bokaro — for alleged violations of the PCPNDT Act, according to the report. In Giridih, one centre was sealed and legal proceedings were initiated against another facility. Separately, the Ranchi administration sealed an ultrasound centre on June 24 in the Kantatoli area that was reportedly operating without a valid licence.
On June 7, three persons were arrested following an allegation of operating an ultrasound centre for sex determination in the Pandra area of Ranchi, the data said.
District committee approves new registrations and renewals
A meeting of the Ranchi district PCPNDT advisory committee, chaired by Deputy Commissioner Manjunath Bhajantri, approved registration of 13 new ultrasound centres and renewal of licences for 3 existing centres, the report said. The committee’s decisions follow the intensified inspection regime and are part of efforts to regularise diagnostic facilities.
- Inspections in Q1 (Apr–Jun 2026): 236 across 24 districts
- Ranchi inspections: 54 (highest among districts)
- Licences suspended: 2 (Ranchi, Bokaro)
- New registrations approved in Ranchi: 13; renewals: 3
“The department has adopted a zero-tolerance policy towards violations and directed all districts to carry out regular inspections,” Rafat Farzana, state coordinator for the PCPNDT Act, said, adding that inspection drives will be strengthened in districts that are lagging.
Uneven enforcement across the state
Despite the state-level push, inspections were unevenly distributed. Godda, Latehar, Hazaribag, Pakur and Seraikela-Kharsawan reported no inspections during the quarter despite having a significant number of ultrasound centres, according to the health department figures cited in the report.
In the 2025-26 financial year, Jharkhand authorities conducted 718 inspections statewide and suspended licences of 30 ultrasound centres, with Bokaro recording the highest number of enforcement actions that year, the data showed.
| Period | State inspections | Ranchi inspections | Licence suspensions (state) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 2026-27 | 236 | 54 | 2 (Ranchi & Bokaro) |
| 2025-26 (full year) | 718 | 21 | 30 |
What this means locally
For residents of Ranchi, the stepped-up inspections signal tighter oversight of prenatal diagnostic services and a push to ensure facilities comply with statutory requirements. The suspension and sealing of centres are meant to deter illegal sex determination practices and to encourage operators to maintain valid registration, records and adherence to the PCPNDT Act.
Officials cited in the report said the state health department has instructed all districts to intensify monitoring. Rafat Farzana, the state coordinator, noted differing performance among districts and said additional measures will be taken in those falling behind.
All figures and actions cited are based on health department data reported by the Times of India.
