Overview
The Supreme Court in 2026 permitted a 15‑year‑old girl to terminate a seven‑month pregnancy, reiterating that unwanted pregnancies cannot be forced on a woman. The judgment anchored reproductive autonomy in Article 21 of the Constitution.
Key Developments
- 2026: Supreme Court overturns Delhi High Court’s refusal and orders termination, emphasizing the state’s duty to respect a citizen’s choice.
- 2021: Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act amended, extending permissible abortion from 20 to 24 weeks and introducing a medical‑board review for cases beyond 24 weeks.
- 1994: Pre‑Conception and Pre‑Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act enacted to curb sex‑selective abortions.
- 2021: Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Act and Surrogacy (Regulation) Act introduced to regulate IVF clinics and altruistic surrogacy respectively.
- 2017: privacy declared a fundamental right, paving the way for later abortion judgments.
Important Facts
- Under the MTP Act, a woman can seek termination up to 20 weeks on her own consent. Between 20‑24 weeks, only minors, rape survivors, mentally ill or differently‑abled women are eligible.
- Beyond 24 weeks, a three‑member medical board in an approved facility may approve termination only for substantial fetal anomalies.
- The identity of the woman is kept confidential; minors need guardian consent, not court approval.
- The PCPNDT Act criminalises sex‑selection tests.
- The