PCPNDT Registration for Ultrasound Clinics and Genetic Centres
No ultrasound clinic, imaging centre, genetic clinic, laboratory or counselling centre can operate without registration under Section 18 of the PC&PNDT Act, 1994. In Haryana, you apply in Form A to the District Appropriate Authority. We prepare the file, submit it, follow up and track your five-yearly renewal.
What it is
PCPNDT registration is the licence a clinic needs before it can use ultrasound or any pre-natal or pre-conception diagnostic technique. The law exists to stop sex selection and sex determination. So the State asks every centre with this equipment to register, keep detailed records and display that sex determination is not done there.
The law is the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act, 1994, read with the PC&PNDT Rules, 1996. Section 18 makes registration compulsory. Rule 4 sets out the application in Form A, Rule 5 the fee, Rule 6 the certificate in Form B, and Rule 8 the renewal.
The registering body is the Appropriate Authority. At district level in Haryana it has three members: the Civil Surgeon, a district officer of the Women and Child Development Department and the District Attorney.
Who it applies to
Ultrasound clinics and imaging centres
Any centre with an ultrasound machine or other imaging equipment that can be used on pregnant women, from a single-doctor clinic to a large radiology centre.
Hospitals and nursing homes
Hospitals, nursing homes and institutes that offer more than one of these services under one roof register as a combined facility, at a higher fee.
Genetic clinics, labs and counselling centres
Centres that do genetic counselling, run genetic tests or carry out pre-natal procedures. Registration applies whether the centre is government, private, voluntary or part-time.
Why it matters
Open and buy equipment legally
Running an unregistered centre is an offence. Ultrasound machines can be sold or rented only to registered centres under Rule 3A, so you cannot even buy a machine legally without it.
Stay ready for surprise inspections
District authorities in Haryana carry out regular inspections. Machines have been sealed simply because the registration was not renewed in time. Here is the catch: a sealed machine stays sealed until the authority decides, and your patients go elsewhere meanwhile.
Protect the doctor’s registration
A conviction can lead to suspension of a doctor’s medical registration, so the paperwork protects the doctor, not only the clinic.
Documents required
About the centre
- Form A in duplicate
- Proof of ownership or rent agreement for the premises
- Building plan or layout of the centre
- Ownership documents (partnership deed, company or trust papers)
About the doctors and staff
- Degrees and medical council registration of each doctor or sonologist
- List of staff with qualifications
- Consent of consultant doctors who will work at the centre
About the equipment and undertakings
- Make, model and serial number of each ultrasound or imaging machine
- Purchase invoice or rental agreement
- Affidavit that sex determination will not be done
- Demand draft for the registration fee
How it works
Check the category and eligibility
We confirm whether you register as a standalone centre or a combined facility and whether the doctors meet the qualifications in Rule 3. We also list the other approvals your premises will need, such as a fire safety NOC and a municipal trade licence.
Prepare Form A and the affidavit
We fill Form A, draft the affidavit and undertakings for your signature, and put together the supporting documents in the order the authority expects.
Submit to the District Appropriate Authority
We file the application with the fee and follow up on queries. The authority may inspect the centre before it decides, so the machine, the display board and the records should all be in place on the day.
Collect Form B and set up renewal
Once the certificate in Form B is granted, it must be displayed in the centre. We diarise the renewal date and changes you must report.
Timelines
Decision on application
The Appropriate Authority grants the certificate in Form B, or rejects the application in writing with reasons, within 90 days of receiving it.
Validity
Five years from the date of issue. The certificate cannot be transferred. A new owner must apply afresh.
Renewal and records
Apply for renewal in Form A 30 days before expiry. Records are kept for at least two years, and the monthly report goes to the authority by the 5th of the next month.
What happens if you operate without registration
First offence
Under Section 23, imprisonment of up to three years and a fine of up to ₹10,000.
Repeat offence
Imprisonment of up to five years and a fine of up to ₹50,000.
Action on the doctor
The doctor’s name is reported to the State Medical Council: registration can be suspended for five years on a first conviction and removed permanently on a repeat one.
Frequently asked questions
What is the fee for PCPNDT registration?
The fee under Rule 5 is ₹25,000 for a standalone ultrasound clinic, imaging centre or genetic centre, and ₹35,000 for a hospital, nursing home or institute offering a combination of services. Government hospitals are not charged. The fee is usually paid by demand draft in favour of the Appropriate Authority. Renewal costs half of the original fee. We confirm the amount with your district office before you make the draft.
How long is PCPNDT registration valid?
Five years from the date the certificate in Form B is issued. You must apply for renewal in Form A at least 30 days before it expires, with half the original fee. If the authority does not decide on a renewal within 90 days, the registration is treated as renewed under Rule 8. Inspectors check the validity date first. We track your renewal so it never becomes a last-minute job.
Who is the Appropriate Authority in Haryana?
For a district, it is a three-member District Appropriate Authority: the Civil Surgeon, a district officer of the Women and Child Development Department and the District Attorney. Applications go to this authority. In 2024 the Supreme Court held, in a case from Gurugram, that a search of a clinic must be authorised by the authority as a body, not by one member acting alone. We file with the correct district office for your centre.
Can I buy an ultrasound machine before registration?
No. Under Rule 3A, ultrasound and imaging machines can be sold, leased or supplied only to centres registered under the Act. Suppliers report their sales to the authorities and take an affidavit from the buyer. In practice, a gynaecologist opening a new clinic in Faridabad finalises the machine with the supplier, registers with its details, and only then takes delivery. We help you line up the paperwork so the machine is not left sitting idle.
What records must a registered centre keep?
Every centre keeps the records prescribed under Rule 9, including Form F for each pregnant woman undergoing an ultrasound. Records must be preserved for at least two years, or longer if any case is pending. A monthly report must reach the Appropriate Authority by the 5th of the following month. Incomplete Form F entries are among the most common inspection findings. A one-page Form F checklist at the reception desk prevents most of them.
What if I move my clinic or change the machine?
Tell the Appropriate Authority before you make the change. The registration is for a specific place, owner and set of equipment, so a new address, new machine or new doctor has to be reported. A change of ownership needs a fresh application, because the certificate cannot be transferred. Think of a Ballabgarh nursing home bought by a new partnership: the old certificate does not pass to the buyer. Reporting in advance avoids the risk of a sealed machine. We prepare the intimation letters and track the authority’s acknowledgment.
Can my application be rejected?
Yes. The Appropriate Authority can reject an application in writing, giving reasons, within 90 days. Common reasons are incomplete documents, doctors who do not meet the Rule 3 qualifications, or missing equipment details. If rejected, you can correct the gaps and apply again. Most rejections are avoidable with a complete first file. We check every document before it goes in.
Does Taxhint handle medical compliance or legal cases?
No. Clinical decisions, Form F entries and the conduct of tests remain the responsibility of your doctors. Our role is the regulatory paperwork: Form A, affidavits for your signature, document files, submission, follow-up, renewals and change intimations. Replies to show-cause notices are drafted for your review, and any court proceedings must be handled by a practising advocate. You treat patients; we keep the file in order.
What it costs
Our fee plus the government fee that applies to your case, quoted before you commit. Tell us the situation and we will price it exactly.
Government fee under Rule 5: ₹25,000 for a standalone ultrasound clinic, imaging centre or genetic centre; ₹35,000 for a hospital, nursing home or institute offering combined services. Renewal is half the original fee.
Ready to begin?
Tell us your centre’s address, machines and doctors, and we will prepare a complete Form A file for the District Appropriate Authority.