The Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971

Abstract

The Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971, is a landmark piece of legislation in India that regulates the conditions under which a pregnancy may be legally terminated. Enacted to provide a structured legal framework for abortion, the Act addresses the need to safeguard women's health and autonomy while also considering socio-economic factors.

The Act permits abortion under various circumstances, including cases where the pregnancy poses a risk to the woman’s physical or mental health, if there is a substantial risk of the child being born with severe physical or mental abnormalities, or in cases of rape and incest. It stipulates that abortions can be performed by qualified medical practitioners in approved facilities, and it outlines specific gestational limits within which the procedure can be carried out.