Hayat Ashraf

The Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Bill, 2021 was passed by the Rajya Sabha (Upper House of Parliament) in India. The bill aims to amend the existing Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971. The key features of the amendments are as follows: 1. Upper gestation limit: The amendments propose to increase the upper gestation limit from 20 to 24 weeks for specific categories of women, which will be defined in the MTP Rules. These categories will include survivors of rape, victims of incest, differently-abled women, minors, and other vulnerable women. 2. Opinion of providers: Up to 20 weeks of gestation, the termination of pregnancy will require the opinion of only one medical provider. However, for pregnancies between 20 and 24 weeks, the opinion of two medical providers will be necessary. 3. Foetal abnormalities: In cases where there are substantial foetal abnormalities diagnosed by a Medical Board, the upper gestation limit will not apply. The composition, functions, and ...