New Delhi (NVI): The Union Cabinet today approved the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Bill, 2020 to increase the upper limit for legal termination of pregnancy from 20 to 24 weeks.
The move will ensure reproductive rights to women and is aimed at discouraging informal termination of pregnancies and reducing the maternal mortality rate.
The Bill will be introduced in the ensuing session of the Parliament.
Enhancing the upper gestation limit from 20 to 24 weeks 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 and other vulnerable women (like differently-abled women, Minors) etc.
Upper gestation limit not to apply in cases of substantial fetal abnormalities diagnosed by Medical Board.
The composition, functions and other details of Medical Board to be prescribed subsequently in Rules under the Act.
Name and other particulars of a woman whose pregnancy has been terminated shall not be revealed except to a person authorised in any law for the time being in force.
The Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Bill, 2020 is for expanding access of women to safe and legal abortion services on therapeutic, eugenic, humanitarian or social grounds.
