The Supreme Court has allowed all women in the country, regardless of marital status, can undergo an abortion up to 24 weeks into pregnancy to access safe and legal abortion care.
It has ruled over a 51-year-old abortion law (Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act of 1971).
This act bars unmarried women from terminating pregnancies which are up to 24-weeks old.
The latest amendment to the MTP Act was made in 2021.
Until the 1960s, abortion was illegal in India and a woman could face three years of imprisonment and/or a fine under Section 312 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Based on the report of the Shanti Lal Shah Committee, a medical termination bill was passed in August 1971.
The Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act, 1971 came into force on 1st of April 1972.
It is applied to whole of India except the state of Jammu and Kashmir.