The Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Act, 2021 , introduced significant legal and clinical updates to India’s abortion framework. These changes aim to expand access while maintaining safeguards, particularly for survivors of rape, incest, and vulnerable populations. For healthcare providers, understanding the revised provisions is essential for compliant, compassionate, and ethical practice. One of the most critical changes is the extension of the gestation limit for termination from 20 weeks to 24 weeks , but only for specific categories such as survivors of sexual assault, minors, and women with fetal anomalies.
For other cases, the upper limit remains at 20 weeks. Additionally, in situations involving substantial fetal abnormalities , termination beyond 24 weeks may now be allowed after approval by a state-level Medical Board. Another key amendment involves the number…
