The document summarizes the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act of 1971 and its amendments over the years in India. 1. The MTP Act of 1971 allowed termination of pregnancy up to 12 weeks upon opinion of one doctor and up to 20 weeks upon opinion of two doctors. It set conditions for legal abortion. 2. The Act was amended in 2002 and 2021. The 2021 amendment increased the upper gestation limit for abortion from 20 to 24 weeks and introduced provisions for a medical board's opinion to terminate pregnancies beyond 24 weeks in special cases. 3. While the amendment strengthens access to safe abortion, it does not specify a time limit for the medical board's decision and India faces shortages

1. MTP ACT
1971 - 2021

3. MTP ACT
1971

4. MTP ACT 1971
1. Abortion was criminalised under Section 312 of
IPC, 1861
2. MTP Act came into force in August 1971 after
Shantilal Shah Committee report, 1964
3. Extended to entire India except the erstwhile
state of J & K
4. Pregnancy upto 12 weeks could be terminated
by & upon an opinion of a registered medical
practitioner*

5. MTP ACT 1971
5. Pregnancy upto 20 weeks could be terminated upon
opinions of ‘not less than two’ registered medical
practitioners.
6. MTP could be performed when:
(a) Continuation of pregnancy is a risk to the life
of the woman or could cause grave injury to her
physical or mental health
(b) There is substantial risk that the child, if born
would be seriously handicapped due to physical or
mental abnormalities

6. MTP ACT 1971
(c) When pregnancy is caused due to rape
(d) When pregnancy is caused due to failure of
contraceptives.
7. Amended in 2002
(a) A District level Committee is empowered to
approve/reject a private place to offer MTP services
(b) The word 'lunatic' was substituted with the words
'mentally ill person'.
(c) Stricter penalties were introduced for dubious MTP

7. ABORTION IN INDIA
2016-2018

8. ABORTION IN THE WORLD
“There are differing opinions with regard to allowing
abortions. One opinion is that terminating a pregnancy is
the choice of the pregnant woman, and a part of her
reproductive rights. The other is that the state has an
obligation to protect life, and hence should provide for the
protection of the foetus. Across the world, countries set
varying conditions and time limits for allowing abortions,
based on foetal health, and risk to the pregnant woman”.

9. MTP (AMENDMENT) ACT
2021

10. MTP (AMENDMENT) BILL
2020
• January
• Cleared by the Union cabinet
2020
• 17 March
• Bill Passed by Lok Sabha
2021
• 16 March
• Bill Passed by Rajya Sabha
2021
• 25 March
• Becomes an Act by extraordinary Gazette

11. MEDICAL TERMINATION OF PREGNANCY
(AMENDMENT) ACT, 2021
Strengths

12. MEDICAL TERMINATION OF PREGNANCY
(AMENDMENT) ACT, 2021
1. It amends the Act to increase the upper limit for
termination from 20 to 24 weeks
2. Upper limit can be extended on recommendation of
the Medical Board
3. All state and union territory governments will
constitute a Medical Board, each Board will have a
Gynaecologist, Paediatrician, Radiologist/sonologist
4. Registered Medical Practitioner ~ ObGy

13. MEDICAL TERMINATION OF PREGNANCY
(AMENDMENT) ACT, 2021
5. Privacy clause has been introduced & violation is
punishable by law.
Time since
conception
MTP Act 1971 MTP Act 2021
Upto 12 weeks Opinion of one doctor Opinion of one doctor
12 to 20 weeks Opinion of two doctors Opinion of one doctor
20 to 24 weeks Not allowed Two doctors of same category
> 24 weeks Not allowed Medical board in case of
substantial foetal anomaly

14. MEDICAL TERMINATION OF PREGNANCY
(AMENDMENT) ACT, 2021
Weaknesses

15. MEDICAL TERMINATION OF PREGNANCY
(AMENDMENT) ACT, 2021
6. Silent on terminating pregnancies due to rape that
have crossed the 24-week limit
7. Time frame for Medical Board’s decision not
specified
8. Shortage of doctors trained in Obstetrics &
Gynecology

16. QUESTIONS?

17. THANK YOU !