Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed a dramatic surge in medical terminations of pregnancy over the past five years, with official data showing the number more than doubling between 2020–21 and 2023–24. This trend, mirrored in national statistics, has sparked a renewed conversation about reproductive health, access to abortion services, and the evolving landscape of women’s rights in India.
According to figures tabled in the Rajya Sabha on August 12, 2025, Jammu and Kashmir reported 3,532 medical terminations of pregnancy in 2020–21. That number rose sharply to 4,983 in 2021–22, 6,036 in 2022–23, and peaked at 9,643 in 2023–24. The provisional figure for 2024–25 stands at 9,193—slightly lower than the previous year but still far above the levels recorded earlier in the decade, as reported by News Arena Network and Kashmir Observer.
The neighboring Union Territory of Ladakh, with its much smaller population and limited health infrastructure, recorded far fewer terminations: 46 in 2020–21, 57 in 2021–22, 125 in 2022–23, 115 in 2023–24, and a provisional 108 in 2024–25. Ladakh currently has 15 authorized public health facilities equipped to provide abortion services—a modest capacity that reflects its geographic spread and sparse population.
Nationally, the trend is just as pronounced. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare’s Health Information Management System (HMIS) reported 534,000 medical terminations in 2020–21. That number steadily increased to 593,000 in 2021–22, 711,000 in 2022–23, 801,000 in 2023–24, and a provisional 893,000 in 2024–25. That’s a remarkable 67 percent increase over five years, according to The Print.
For context, some of India’s largest states dwarf Jammu and Kashmir’s absolute numbers. Maharashtra reported over 207,000 terminations in 2024–25, Tamil Nadu just over 101,000, and Rajasthan more than 53,000. In the northern region, Punjab recorded 21,439 terminations, Delhi 25,333, and Himachal Pradesh 6,595 in the same period. Yet, the rate of growth in Jammu and Kashmir stands out among smaller and medium-sized states and Union Territories.
Jammu and Kashmir’s public health infrastructure for abortion services has also expanded, though it remains modest in scale compared to the national picture. In 2024–25, the region had 109 authorized public health facilities equipped for medical terminations, representing about 0.9 percent of the national total of 12,434 facilities. Ladakh’s 15 facilities highlight the challenges of providing access in remote and sparsely populated areas.
What’s driving these numbers? Health officials and experts point to a combination of legal reforms, increased awareness, and improved access to services. One of the most significant changes came with the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Act and Rules, 2021. This legislation extended the gestational limit for certain categories of women to 24 weeks and broadened access to abortion services. The amendments allowed unmarried women to seek abortions and made provision for survivors of sexual assault, minors, and women with physical or mental disabilities, among others. For abortions up to 20 weeks, a single doctor’s opinion suffices; for 20 to 24 weeks in specified cases, two doctors’ opinions are required. In complex cases involving fetal anomalies beyond 24 weeks, a state-level medical board must approve the procedure.
Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Anupriya Patel told the Rajya Sabha that the government implements the Comprehensive Abortion Care programme to ensure safe, timely, and affordable access to medical termination for all women, including those from economically weaker sections, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and other disadvantaged groups. The programme supports the training of medical officers in safe abortion techniques, procurement of necessary equipment and drugs, and public information campaigns to raise awareness, particularly in rural areas. The government also observes International Safe Abortion Day annually to reduce stigma and improve access.
But the rise in recorded abortions has prompted debate among public health experts. Some, like Poonam Muttreja, executive director of the Population Foundation of India, see it as a sign of unmet need for family planning methods and services. "A large number of women today are part of the workforce and do not want to have babies due to multiple reasons—yet they lack access to counseling related to contraception and long-term family planning," Muttreja told The Print. She also cautioned about the risks: "Abortions are associated with huge physical, emotional and mental health risks and even a significant degree of mortality—around 8 percent."
Others, however, argue that the rise in numbers could reflect a positive trend: more women accessing safe, legal, and affordable abortion services through public health facilities. As V S Chandrashekhar, India director at Americares, a global health nonprofit, told The Print, "This, in fact, indicates that the cost of abortions may be going down and more women from economically disadvantaged groups are accessing the MTP services."
It’s worth noting that while HMIS data focuses on public sector hospitals, a 2017 study published in The Lancet estimated that the actual number of abortions—whether induced through medical methods, pills, vacuum aspiration, or surgery—was around 15 million annually in India, with nearly half resulting from unintended pregnancies. Eight years ago, the public sector accounted for only one-quarter of facility-based abortion provision, partly because many public facilities did not offer abortion services. The recent expansion of authorized facilities and legal reforms may be shifting that balance.
The reasons women seek abortions are complex and varied. Experts cite failed contraception, congenital malformations, and socio-economic factors as primary drivers. The new legal framework also recognizes the realities faced by women whose marital status changes during pregnancy or who are affected by disaster-like situations, providing for abortion up to 24 weeks in such cases.
In Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, the story is one of both progress and ongoing challenges. The rapid increase in recorded terminations suggests that more women are aware of their rights and have better access to services. Yet, the relatively low number of authorized facilities—especially in remote areas—points to the need for continued investment in health infrastructure and outreach, particularly for rural and marginalized communities.
As India marks International Safe Abortion Day each year, the conversation around abortion is slowly shifting from one of stigma and secrecy to one of rights and access. The data from Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, and across the country underscores both the progress made and the work still to be done to ensure that every woman, regardless of her background or location, can make informed decisions about her reproductive health in safety and dignity.
With the numbers climbing and the legal landscape evolving, the coming years will test whether India can truly deliver on the promise of safe, accessible, and compassionate abortion care for all.
