The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on 15th September 2021 has notified 24th September 2021 as the date on which the provisions of Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Act, 2021(8 of 2021) will come into force.
The new Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Act 2021 expands the access to safe and legal abortion services on therapeutic, eugenic, humanitarian and social grounds to ensure universal access to comprehensive care.
The amendment act permits abortion to be allowed up to 20 weeks on the opinion of just one medical practitioner and to terminate pregnancies between 20 and 24 weeks, the opinion of two doctors are required. This extension of the gestation period up to 24 weeks is given for special categories of women such as rape/incest victims, differently-abled women and minors.
