Health Ministry Recommends Extending Abortion Rights To Single Women

In a radical move, the health ministry has recommended recognising "failure of contraceptive" and "unplanned pregnancy" as legal reasons for abortion among all women, married or otherwise. At present, these two reasons are accepted only in the case of married women, reported the Times of India.

This is likely to be taken up by the Cabinet soon after the current Parliament session ends. The government's approvals will broaden the purview of legal abortion. Experts say the move is progressive and will give women safe and legal abortion options.

Additional amendments to the law which dates back to 1971 would allow abortion at any time during pregnancy for "selective" foetal abnormality, which cannot be detected during the 20-week gestation period. Currently, the law allows medical abortion only till 20 weeks of pregnancy.