The Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971
The Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971 (Act No. 34 of 1971) was meant to be an umbrella of compassion and progress over the existing abortion laws in India. The act couldn't however deprive women of the serious health hazards caused by unsafe and illegal abortions which were then a grim reality. Abortion was considered a criminal act under Sections 312 to 316 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 before the law, and it was allowed only when it was the case of saving the woman's life.
January 18, 2026•11 min read