The Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act came into force in the year:

Appeared in: DSSSB 12 August 2024

Explanation

The Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act was passed by the Indian Parliament in 1971.
The Act officially came into force on April 1, 1972, making it the correct answer for when the law was implemented.
This legislation provided a legal framework for performing abortions, moving away from the restrictive Indian Penal Code of 1860.
The question specifically asks when the Act 'came into force', not when it was 'passed', which is a key distinction.

Option A: By 1992, the MTP Act had been legally active for 20 years. This year is incorrect.
Option B: In 1952, abortion was illegal in India under the Indian Penal Code, except to save a woman's life. The MTP Act was not yet conceptualized.
Option D: This year falls within the British colonial era, decades before India's independence and the subsequent legal reforms on reproductive health.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Legal framework and timeline of the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act in India as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
The MTP Act is a cornerstone of public health in India, aimed at reducing maternal morbidity and mortality from unsafe, illegal abortions.
Nurses play a vital role in implementing the MTP Act by providing non-judgmental counseling, ensuring patient confidentiality, assisting in the procedure, and offering post-abortion care and contraceptive advice.
What if the question asked when the MTP Act was last amended? The answer would be 2021, when significant changes were made, including increasing the gestational limit for termination for certain categories of women.

How to Approach the Question

This is a factual recall question based on legal history in nursing.
First, identify the key terms: 'Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act' and 'came into force'.
Differentiate between the year the Act was 'passed' by Parliament (1971) and the year it was 'enforced' or 'came into force' (1972).
The question specifically asks for the year it came into force.
Recall or deduce the correct year from the options provided.
Eliminate historically implausible options, such as dates before India's independence or too recent dates.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Legal framework and timeline of the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act in India.
Stem keywords: Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, came into force, year
Lead-in keywords: in the year

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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 DSSSB 12 August 2024

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