The Medical termination of pregnancy act came into force in the year?

Appeared in: SJH Nursing Officer - 2019

Explanation

The Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act was a landmark legislation in India concerning women's reproductive health.
While the bill was passed by the Indian Parliament in the year 1971, it was officially implemented and came into force across the country (except Jammu and Kashmir at the time) on April 1, 1972.
This Act legalized abortion under specific conditions, aiming to reduce maternal mortality and morbidity from unsafe and illegal abortions.

Option A: The year 1964 is incorrect. While discussions around liberalizing abortion laws were happening globally during the 1960s, the MTP Act in India was not enacted in this year. The Shantilal Shah Committee, which recommended the legalization of abortion, was constituted in 1964, but this was not the year the act came into force.
Option B: The year 1962 has no direct significance to the enactment of the MTP Act in India.
Option D: The year 1966 is incorrect. The Shantilal Shah Committee submitted its report in 1966, which formed the basis for the MTP bill, but the act itself was not enforced in this year.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Legal Framework for Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Knowledge of the MTP Act is fundamental for nurses, especially in maternity and community health settings, to provide legally compliant and ethical care.
Nurses are responsible for counseling patients about their options, ensuring informed consent is obtained correctly, and maintaining strict confidentiality as mandated by the Act.
Understanding the gestational limits and conditions for termination helps nurses in patient assessment, referral, and providing accurate information.

How to Approach the Question

Identify the core question: The question asks for the year the MTP Act came into force, not when it was passed.
Scan the options provided, which are all specific years.
This is a factual recall question based on knowledge of important healthcare legislation in India.
Recall the timeline of the MTP Act. A key point to remember is the distinction between the year the bill was passed (1971) and the year it was enacted or came into force (1972).
Select the option that corresponds to the year the Act was enforced.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Parks TextBook of Preventive & Social Medicine part 1 — Subpart C (pp 404-604 of 604) p. 199-200

Practise the full SJH Nursing Officer - 2019

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.