Bill allowing termination of pregnancy up to 24 weeks in Budget session

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the bill to amend Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, allowing termination of pregnancy up to 24 weeks.

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the bill to amend the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971. The Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Bill, 2020 will be introduced in the upcoming Budget session of the Parliament.

The amendments propose a requirement for the opinion of one provider for termination of pregnancy, up to 20 weeks of gestation and introducing the requirement of the opinion of two providers for termination of pregnancy of 20-24 weeks of gestation.

The step to enhance the upper gestation limit from 20 to 24 weeks will be applicable for special categories of women which will be defined in the amendments to the MTP Rules and would include "vulnerable women including survivors of rape, victims of incest, differently-abled women and minors" among others.

Upper gestation limit will not apply in cases of substantial foetal abnormalities diagnosed by Medical Board. The composition, functions and other details of Medical Board to be prescribed subsequently in Rules under the Act. 

The name and other details of the woman whose pregnancy has been terminated will be kept confidential except to a person authorised by law. 

The government said that the amendments are for expanding access of women to safe and legal abortion services on therapeutic, eugenic, humanitarian or social grounds. The proposed amendments include the substitution of certain sub-sections and insertion of certain new clauses under some sections in the existing Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971. 

The amended act will increase upper gestation limit for termination of pregnancy under certain conditions and will also strengthen access to comprehensive abortion care, under strict conditions, without compromising service and quality of safe abortion.

It is a step towards the safety and well-being of the women and many women will be benefitted by this, the government said. 

The step has been taken in view of recent cases where several petitions were received by the courts seeking permission for aborting pregnancies at a gestational age beyond the present permissible limit on grounds of foetal abnormalities or pregnancies due to sexual violence faced by women. 

The proposed increase in gestational age will ensure dignity, autonomy, confidentiality and justice for women who need to terminate the pregnancy. 

In order to increase access of women to safe abortion services and taking into account the advances in medical technology, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare proposed amendments after extensive consultation with various stakeholders and several ministries, a government statement said.