Modi Cabinet Approves Revised Medical Termination Of Pregnancy Bill, Extends Duration Of Abortion

Medical Termination Of Pregnancy (MTP) Bill is one of the most talked-about topics in India. Last year, the Union government in an affidavit to Delhi High Court said that they are working to amend the MTP act, 1971. This happened after a petition was submitted by activist Amit Sahni asking for changes in the existing bill.

The decades old abortion law permits abortion maximum up to foetal gestation period of 20 weeks. Section 3 (2) of the MTP Act, 1971 states “a pregnancy may be terminated by a registered medical practitioner, (a) where the length of the pregnancy does not exceed twelve weeks, if such medical practitioner is, or (b) where the length of the pregnancy exceeds twelve weeks but does not exceed twenty weeks, if not less than two registered medical practitioners are, of opinion. the continuance of the pregnancy would involve a risk to the life of the pregnant woman or of grave injury to her physical or mental health; or there is a substantial risk that if the child were born, it would suffer from such physical or mental abnormalities to be seriously handicapped.”

According to the previous law, the failure of contraceptive and unplanned pregnancy are the only reasons of abortion for married women. It can also be terminated legally if it can harm the mother, if the child can be born with serious defects or if it is a result of rape. It asks for written consent for parents for minors. It doesn't allow unmarried women to give contraceptive failure as a reason for abortion.

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The petition demanded the extension of the abortion period from 20 weeks to 24-26 weeks if there is a health risk to the mother or the child. Today, the government has approved for this upper limit. Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said, "In a progressive reform and giving reproductive rights to women, the limit of 20 weeks of medical termination of pregnancy has been increased to 24 weeks."

This change has been made to ensure the safe termination of pregnancy. It will also give women reproductive rights over their bodies.

A section of women and doctors also demanded this revision saying it was important for women who don't realise their pregnancy.

According to media reports, the amendment will extend the abortion period for women in the special category which may include single women who don't want the child, vulnerable women and specially-abled women.

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Abortion is legal in India since 1971 but according to the Medical Termination Of Pregnancy Act, it can be performed up to 20 weeks. With new changes in the law, it will be easier for women in the special categories to get the abortion done up to 24 to 26 weeks.

The revised bill will be introduced in the next parliament session.