The Medical Termination of Pregnancy Amendment Rules 2021

Subject – Governance

Context – Abortion rules to aid minors

Concept –

The Medical Termination of Pregnancy Amendment Rules, 2021, define new categories of vulnerable women who are allowed termination up to 24 weeks upon meeting certain conditions and with the permission of two doctors.
- These include minors, survivors of sexual assault and those with foetal malformation.
Others may seek abortion up to 20 weeks with the permission of one doctor upon meeting certain criteria.
- Earlier you needed the permission of one doctor for termination up to 12 weeks, and two doctors for 12 to 20 weeks.
The amended law provides for setting up of State-level medical boards to decide if a pregnancy may be terminated after 24 weeks.

However, there are obstacles posed by the POCSO Act, 2012, in providing services. Section 19 of the Act requires any person aware of a minor engaging in sex to report the matter to the local police even if it was a consensual act as the law pegs the age of consent at 18.