Govt notifies new abortion rules

New Delhi: Government has notified new rules in which the gestational limit for termination of pregnancy has been increased from 20 to 24 weeks for certain categories of women. These categories include survivors of sexual assault or rape or incest, minors and women whose marital status changes during an ongoing pregnancy.

As per the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Rules, 2021, the medical board will allow or deny termination of pregnancy beyond 20-24 weeks of gestation period



only after due consideration and ensuring that the procedure would be safe for the woman at that gestation age and whether the foetal malformation has substantial risk of it being incompatible with life or if the child is born it may suffer from such physical or mental abnormalities to be seriously handicapped. 

The new rules have been framed under the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Act, 2021 passed by Parliament in March this year.