Under the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Act 2021, India, the upper gestational limit for MTP has been extended to 24 weeks for specified categories. Which of the following is NOT included in the categories eligible for termination up to 24 weeks?

• A Survivors of rape or sexual assault
• B Minors (women below 18 years)
• C All married women on request without medical indication up to 24 weeks ✓
• D Women with contraceptive failure — extended to all women (not only married)

Explanation

The MTP Amendment Act 2021 extends the upper limit to 24 weeks for specific vulnerable categories: survivors of rape/sexual assault, minors, women with disabilities, women whose marital status changes during pregnancy, and women with fetal anomalies (with Medical Board approval for beyond 24 weeks). Crucially, all women (not just married women) who have contraceptive failure can now seek MTP up to 20 weeks with opinion of one registered medical practitioner. However, termination up to 24 weeks on demand for all married women without clinical indication is not a provision — the 24-week extension applies only to the specified categories, not as a blanket right for all women.

Reference: Shaw's Textbook of Gynaecology, 17th ed.

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Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.