Read the passage carefully and give the answer to the next five questions:
India was amongst the first countries in the world to initiate action plans and programmes at a national level to attain total reproductive health as a social goal. These programmes called 'family planning' were initiated in 1951 and were periodically assessed over the past decades. Improved programmes covering wider reproduction-related areas are currently in operation. Creating awareness among the people about various reproduction-related aspects and providing facilities and support for building up a reproductively healthy society are the major tasks under these programmes.
Which of the following statements is incorrect with respect to Medical Termination of Pregnancy?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → MTPs can be performed even after 24 weeks, but with the opinion of 2 registered medical practitioners on specific grounds.
Option (1) They are considered safe during the first trimester. — A correct statement about MTP. MTPs are relatively safe in the first trimester, that is, up to 12 weeks of pregnancy. Abortions in the second trimester are much more risky.
Option (2) It is legalised in India from 1971. — A correct statement about MTP. The Government of India legalised MTP in 1971, with strict conditions to check its misuse, such as illegal female foeticide.
Option (3) MTPs can be performed even after 24 weeks, but with the opinion of 2 registered medical practitioners on specific grounds. — An incorrect statement about MTP. Under the Act, 24 weeks is the upper limit. The opinion of two practitioners is needed between 12 and 24 weeks, not after 24 weeks.
Option (4) About 20% of the total number of conceived pregnancies undergo MTP in a year globally. — A correct statement about MTP. MTP, or medical termination of pregnancy, is the intentional or voluntary ending of a pregnancy before full term. Nearly 45 to 50 million MTPs are done in the world every year. This is about 1/5th, or 20 per cent, of all pregnancies conceived in a year.
Note: This passage is taken from NCERT as it is. Most CUET (UG) questions come straight from NCERT, so study the book line by line, including figures and their titles.
NCERT Extract:
Population Stabilisation and Birth Control – “… The Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Act, 2017 was enacted by the government of India with the intension of reducing the incidence of illegal abortion and consequent maternal mortality and morbidity. According to this Act, a pregnancy may be terminated on certain considered grounds within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy on the opinion of one registered medical practitioner. If the pregnancy has lasted more than 12 weeks, but fewer than 24 weeks, two registered medical practitioners must be of the opinion, formed in good faith, that the required ground exist.”