Introduction

“The Indian abortion laws falls under the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act, which was enacted by the Indian Parliament in the year 1971 with the intention of reducing the incidence of illegal abortion and consequent maternal mortality and morbidity. The MTP Act came into effect from 1 April 1972 and was amended in the years 1975 and 2002. Pregnancies not exceeding 12 weeks may be terminated based on a single opinion formed in good faith. In case of pregnancies exceeding 12 weeks but less than 20 weeks, termination needs opinion of two doctors. The Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act of India clearly states the conditions under which a pregnancy can be ended or aborted, the persons who are qualified to conduct the abortion and the place of implementation.Some of these qualifications are as follows: Women whose physical and/or mental health were endangered by the pregnancy Women facing the birth of a potentially handicapped or malformed child Rape Pregnancies in unmarried girls under the age of eighteen with the consent of a guardian Pregnancies in "lunatics" with the consent of a guardian Pregnancies that are a result of failure in sterilization”