Reproductive Health Laws in India — Applied Context

MTP Act (1971) — Medical Termination of Pregnancy

What it allows:

• Termination of pregnancy by a qualified medical professional
• Standard gestational limit: up to 20 weeks
• 2021 amendment extends this to 24 weeks for: rape survivors, minors, differently-abled women, women with fetal abnormalities

What it does NOT allow:

• Termination beyond 20 weeks for standard cases
• Non-medical practitioners performing MTPs
• MTPs for sex selection (banned separately by PCPNDT)

Clinical Context for NEET:

• First trimester MTPs (up to 12 weeks) are safest — simpler, fewer complications
• Second trimester MTPs (13–20 weeks) are riskier but legal
• Safety decreases significantly beyond 20 weeks

PCPNDT Act (1994) — Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act

What it bans:

• Use of amniocentesis, ultrasound, or ANY prenatal diagnostic technique for sex determination
• Both the practitioner AND the person requesting sex determination face penalties
• Covers pre-conception sex selection (e.g., choosing embryos by sex for IVF)

What it permits:

• Amniocentesis for detecting chromosomal abnormalities (Down syndrome — trisomy 21)
• Amniocentesis for detecting genetic disorders (thalassemia, haemophilia)
• Ultrasound for fetal monitoring, anomaly scans, placental position

Societal Context:

• Enacted to combat declining sex ratio due to female foeticide
• Declining female birth sex ratios in certain Indian states drove this legislation
• Part of broader reproductive health rights framework

NEET Application Questions

1. "Which law bans prenatal sex determination?" → PCPNDT Act (1994)
2. "What is the legal limit for MTP in India?" → 20 weeks (24 for special categories, 2021)
3. "When was India's first family planning programme?" → 1951
4. "Can amniocentesis be used to detect Down syndrome?" → Yes (legitimate use)
5. "Can amniocentesis be used for sex determination?" → No (PCPNDT Act 1994 bans this)