Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Act 2021
Topic: Safeguards for Vulnerable Sections: SCs, STs, OBCs, Minorities, Women and Children · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
The Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Act 2021 widened the legal right to abortion. Abortion is allowed:
- up to 20 weeks on one doctor's opinion;
- up to 24 weeks for special categories, such as rape survivors and minors;
- at any stage for a substantial foetal abnormality, with a medical board's approval.
It treats safe abortion as a part of women's health and choice.
Example
In X v. Principal Secretary (2022), the Supreme Court held that unmarried women have the same abortion rights under this law as married women.
Related concepts
- Equal Remuneration Act 1976
- Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act 2013
- Internal Committee
- Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act 2017
- Babita Puniya case
- Dowry Prohibition Act 1961
- Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act 2005
- Justice Verma Committee (2013)
- Nirbhaya Fund