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The Lok Sabha passed a bill which extends the upper limit for permitting abortions from 20 weeks to 24 weeks under special circumstances. These circumstances include rape survivors, victims of incest, the differently abled and minors.
The Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Bill 2020 to amend the MTP Act, 1971 was passed by a voice vote after a debate of 2 1/2 hours. While some members held abortion to be a fundamental right of a woman, some others felt that abortion should not be encouraged as it is a crime against humanity. AIADMK member, Raveendranath Kumar, requested for increase in the number of medical college seats as there were very few gynaecologists. He added that unsafe abortions caused the death of many pregnant women.
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