Statement I: Second trimester abortions are much more complicated.
Statement II: If the pregnancy has lasted more than 12 weeks, but fewer than 24 weeks, two registered medical practitioners must be of the opinion.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → Both Statement I and Statement II are correct.
MTP (medical termination of pregnancy) is the intentional ending of a pregnancy before full term. The book treats it as relatively safe early in pregnancy, and Indian law sets conditions on when it may be done.
Statement I: Second trimester abortions are much more complicated. — True. MTPs are considered relatively safe only in the first trimester, that is up to 12 weeks. The book says second trimester abortions are much more risky, which is what “more complicated” means here.
Statement II: If the pregnancy has lasted more than 12 weeks, but fewer than 24 weeks, two registered medical practitioners must be of the opinion. — True. Under the MTP (Amendment) Act, 2017, one registered medical practitioner can give the opinion within the first 12 weeks. Between 12 and 24 weeks, two registered medical practitioners must agree, in good faith, that the grounds exist.
Note: The two-doctor rule is printed in a narrow side box next to the MTP paragraph. A small box can carry the same five marks as a full page.
NCERT Extract:
Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) – “… MTPs are considered relatively safe during the first trimester, i.e., upto 12 weeks of pregnancy. Second trimester abortions are much more riskier. One disturbing trend observed is that a majority of the MTPs are performed illegally by unqualified quacks which are not only unsafe but could be fatal too.”
Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) – “… 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.”