New Delhi: The Union Cabinet approved extending the upper limit for permitting abortions from the present 20 weeks to 24 weeks for special categories of women which would include rape survivals, victims of incest, differently abled and minors.

The cabinet on Wednesday gave its nod to the medical termination of pregnancy (Amendment) bill 2020. This bill is amend the medical termination of pregnancy act, 1971 and it would be introduced in the budget session of parliament beginning January 31^st, said official sources. Speaking to the media persons after the cabinet meeting, the union minister Prakash Javdekar said that this will ensure safe termination of pregnancies and also give women reproductive rights over their bodies.

The extension will help victims of rape, girls with disabilities as well as minors, who may not realize they are pregnant until later, he said.