New Delhi: The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Bill, 2020, to increase the upper limit for legal termination of pregnancy to 24 weeks from the earlier 20 weeks.
The Bill which aims to amend the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971 will be introduced in the coming session of the Parliament.
This Bill will enhance 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 others.
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Under this bill, there will be no revelation of names and other particulars of a woman whose pregnancy has been terminated, except to a person who will be authorised by the law.
The Union Cabinet meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Addressing the media, Union Minister Prakash Jawdekar said that this is a step towards safety and well being of the women and undoubtedly many women will be benefited.
Recently, several petitions were received by the Courts seeking permission for aborting pregnancies at a gestational age beyond the present permissible limit. Union Health Ministry had earlier proposed such amendments after extensive consultations with various ministries with an aim to provide women, safe abortion.
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