CURRENT AFFAIRS

Detailed explanation-1: -Gestation is the foetal development period from the time of conception until birth. In India, the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act stipulates a ceiling of 20 weeks, for termination of pregnancy, beyond which abortion of a foetus is statutorily impermissible.

Detailed explanation-2: -The MTP Act allows for termination of pregnancy up to 20 weeks of pregnancy. In case termination of pregnancy is immediately necessary to save the life of the woman, this limit does not apply (Section 5 of the MTP Act).

Detailed explanation-3: -Despite these pitfalls, it is perhaps safe to say that the SC’s 2022 judgement to include women-irrespective of their marital status-under the MTP act, which allows them to terminate pregnancies up to 24 weeks reaffirm India’s commitment to treat safe and legal abortion as every woman’s constitutional right.

Detailed explanation-4: -The Court’s ruling, issued September 29, stated that the distinction between married and unmarried women under the MTP Act is arbitrary and all women have the autonomy to exercise their rights regarding safe and legal abortion up to 24 weeks of gestation.

Detailed explanation-5: -Under the Act, a pregnancy may be terminated up to 20 weeks by a married woman in the case of failure of contraceptive method or device. The Bill allows unmarried women to also terminate a pregnancy for this reason.