The Department of Health and Family Welfare (Directorate of Family Welfare) of the National Capital Territory of Delhi has issued a notification announcing an amendment to its Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) rules. This amendment was published on March 20, 2025 and has come into effect from that same date.
This amendment aligns the local regulations in Delhi with the updated terminology introduced in the central Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Rules, 2024, which were published by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India, on June 10, 2024.
It may be recalled that the Delhi government had issued a notification dated January 18, 2024 introducing the updated formats for Form-I, Form-II, and Form-III. These formats are essential for the proper documentation of Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) cases, as mandated by the law. Now, by the present notification, the Delhi government has further updated Form-II in pursuance of the provisions of the central government’s updated MTP rules.
The primary change in Form-II of the existing notification makes a substitution within sub-clause (e) of Clause B, as follows:
The words “mental retardation” have been replaced with “women with intellectual disability”.
This change reflects a more contemporary and respectful terminology used to describe individuals with intellectual disabilities. By adopting the term “women with intellectual disability,” the Delhi government is aligning its regulations with the updated language used at the national level.
With this amendment the Delhi government has brought its regulations in line with national standards and using inclusive and appropriate language. It, therefore, ensures that the local MTP rules reflect the latest terminology and promote a more sensitive and respectful approach towards individuals with intellectual disabilities within the healthcare system.
