▸The Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971, was a landmark legislation in India which aimed to regulate the conditions under which a pregnancy could be terminated.

▸After the Amendment in 2021, the law permits termination of pregnancy upto 20 weeks liberally. In select cases including to alleviate the mental anguish of the woman, termination can be done upto 24 weeks

▸For pregnancies beyond 24 weeks of gestation with fetal anomalies, a multi disciplinary panel consisting an obstetrician, paediatrician, anaesthesiologist, radiologist and other concerned specialists are formed in designated district hospitals, who are empowered to grant the termination of pregnancy. In all other conditions including rape, the patient may approach the judiciary who then determine the validity of individual cases for termination of pregnancy.

▸The liberization of MTP law is a matter of controversy and in some countries there is a challenge to already existing liberal laws. In India, like Finland, MTP laws are liberal till 20 weeks of gestation. UK, Netherlands and Czech Republic is liberal upto 24 weeks of gestation. Countries like Austria, Germany, Denmark, New Zealand have no limit of gestational age for MTP.

▸The MTP act is a crucial step in advancing female rights and enabling them to make informed decisions about their reproductive health.