The Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act (MTP Act) is a cornerstone of abortion law that balances women’s reproductive rights, public health, and clinical safety. B.Pharm students must grasp the Act’s objectives—ensuring safe abortion access, reducing unsafe procedures, defining gestational limits, and clarifying consent and provider responsibilities—and its key provisions such as eligibility criteria, required medical opinions, approved facilities, documentation, and penalties for illegal terminations. Understanding the 2021 amendment, prescription norms, and pharmacology of medical methods (mifepristone–misoprostol) is vital for pharmacists involved in counseling, dispensing, and regulatory compliance. Now let’s test your knowledge with 30 MCQs on this topic.
Q1. What is the primary objective of the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act?
- To criminalize all abortions
- To ensure safe and legal access to abortion and protect women’s health
- To permit abortion only for married women
- To replace contraception programs
Correct Answer: To ensure safe and legal access to abortion and protect women’s health
Q2. Who must give consent for a medical termination of pregnancy under the MTP Act?
- The husband of the pregnant woman
- The pregnant woman herself
- The hospital superintendent
- The local magistrate
Correct Answer: The pregnant woman herself
Q3. As per the MTP Amendment Act, 2021, what is the extended upper gestational limit for termination in certain categories?
- 12 weeks
- 20 weeks
- 24 weeks
- 28 weeks
Correct Answer: 24 weeks
Q4. Under the original MTP Act (1971), what was the requirement for medical opinion for termination between 12 and 20 weeks?
- No medical opinion required
- Opinion of one registered medical practitioner (RMP)
- Opinion of two registered medical practitioners (RMPs)
- Opinion of a judicial magistrate
Correct Answer: Opinion of two registered medical practitioners (RMPs)
Q5. Who is defined as a Registered Medical Practitioner (RMP) under the MTP framework?
- Any health worker with first aid training
- A medical practitioner registered under the relevant medical registration law
- A pharmacist with a B.Pharm degree
- A nurse-midwife with government certification
Correct Answer: A medical practitioner registered under the relevant medical registration law
Q6. Which of the following is a legal place for performing an MTP?
- Any private residence
- A registered hospital or approved clinic with required facilities
- A local pharmacy without supervision
- A temporary field camp without surgical support
Correct Answer: A registered hospital or approved clinic with required facilities
Q7. Which drug regimen is standard for medical termination of early pregnancy?
- Mifepristone followed by misoprostol
- Methotrexate alone
- Oxytocin infusion only
- Levonorgestrel emergency contraceptive
Correct Answer: Mifepristone followed by misoprostol
Q8. Up to what gestational age is medical abortion with mifepristone–misoprostol generally recommended?
- Up to 7 days gestation
- Up to 63 days (9 weeks) of gestation in many protocols
- Up to 20 weeks for all cases
- Only after 24 weeks
Correct Answer: Up to 63 days (9 weeks) of gestation in many protocols
Q9. After administering mifepristone and misoprostol, what is an important counseling point for patients?
- They will never experience any bleeding
- Severe pain and heavy bleeding may occur; seek care if excessive or fever develops
- No follow-up is ever required
- They should take antibiotics routinely without symptoms
Correct Answer: Severe pain and heavy bleeding may occur; seek care if excessive or fever develops
Q10. What legal provision was strengthened by the 2021 MTP Amendment regarding fetal abnormalities?
- Complete ban on termination for fetal abnormalities
- Creation of a State-level Medical Board to decide on termination beyond statutory limits for substantial fetal abnormalities
- Requirement for police approval before termination
- Automatic approval for termination at any gestation
Correct Answer: Creation of a State-level Medical Board to decide on termination beyond statutory limits for substantial fetal abnormalities
Q11. Which professionals are pharmacists expected to collaborate with under the MTP Act framework?
- Only traditional healers
- Registered medical practitioners, nurses, and public health officials
- Pharmacists are excluded from MTP-related care
- Only legal advisors
Correct Answer: Registered medical practitioners, nurses, and public health officials
Q12. What is the status of mifepristone and misoprostol in terms of regulation for dispensing?
- Over-the-counter for anyone
- Prescription-only, to be dispensed by pharmacists on valid prescription
- Completely banned
- Sold only to hospitals with no prescription needed
Correct Answer: Prescription-only, to be dispensed by pharmacists on valid prescription
Q13. Which is a contraindication for medical termination with mifepristone–misoprostol?
- Known or suspected ectopic pregnancy
- Uncomplicated early intrauterine pregnancy
- Gestation under 9 weeks with no comorbidity
- Desire for immediate medical supervision
Correct Answer: Known or suspected ectopic pregnancy
Q14. Under the MTP Act, what is the legal consequence for performing an illegal termination?
- No consequence
- Penalties including imprisonment and/or fine for the offender
- Mandatory promotion at work
- Award of a medical license
Correct Answer: Penalties including imprisonment and/or fine for the offender
Q15. Which method is considered a safe surgical technique for first-trimester abortion?
- Sharp curettage without suction
- Manual vacuum aspiration (MVA)
- Use of herbal emetics
- High-dose oxytocin injection alone
Correct Answer: Manual vacuum aspiration (MVA)
Q16. For a pharmacist, which documentation practice related to MTP drugs is important?
- No record-keeping is needed
- Maintaining prescription records and batch details, and ensuring legal compliance for dispensing
- Destroying all prescriptions immediately
- Allowing anyone to sign prescriptions
Correct Answer: Maintaining prescription records and batch details, and ensuring legal compliance for dispensing
Q17. Which of the following is a public-health objective of the MTP Act?
- Increase unsafe clandestine abortions
- Reduce maternal morbidity and mortality from unsafe abortions
- Eliminate family-planning services
- Mandate sterilization for all women
Correct Answer: Reduce maternal morbidity and mortality from unsafe abortions
Q18. What should a pharmacist advise about post-abortion contraception?
- Contraception is unnecessary after abortion
- Discuss and provide appropriate contraception as early as possible after MTP, per guidelines
- Delay contraception for at least one year
- Only provide condoms, nothing else
Correct Answer: Discuss and provide appropriate contraception as early as possible after MTP, per guidelines
Q19. Which complication requires immediate referral after a medical abortion?
- Mild spotting
- High fever with abdominal pain suggesting sepsis
- Expected cramping controlled by analgesics
- Light bleeding for a few days
Correct Answer: High fever with abdominal pain suggesting sepsis
Q20. How does mifepristone act pharmacologically in medical termination?
- It is a prostaglandin analogue that induces uterine contractions directly
- It is a progesterone receptor antagonist that sensitizes the uterus to prostaglandins and causes decidual breakdown
- It is an estrogen agonist that thickens the endometrium
- It is an antibiotic that prevents infection
Correct Answer: It is a progesterone receptor antagonist that sensitizes the uterus to prostaglandins and causes decidual breakdown
Q21. What is the recommended misoprostol dose route commonly used after mifepristone in medical abortion?
- Oral, sublingual, buccal, or vaginal routes (common total dose 400–800 mcg depending on protocol)
- Intravenous only
- Topical application on skin
- Intramuscular injection as the only route
Correct Answer: Oral, sublingual, buccal, or vaginal routes (common total dose 400–800 mcg depending on protocol)
Q22. Which statement about confidentiality under the MTP Act is correct?
- Patient confidentiality is not required for MTP
- Confidentiality of the woman seeking termination must be maintained as part of ethical and legal practice
- All terminations must be publicly announced
- Consent of the local community is mandatory
Correct Answer: Confidentiality of the woman seeking termination must be maintained as part of ethical and legal practice
Q23. In which situation is medical termination not appropriate and a surgical option preferred?
- Early intrauterine pregnancy within 6 weeks
- Suspected or confirmed ectopic pregnancy
- When a woman prefers medical method
- When gestation is within recommended medical abortion limits and no contraindication
Correct Answer: Suspected or confirmed ectopic pregnancy
Q24. What role does a pharmacist play in reducing unsafe abortions under the MTP framework?
- Sell MTP drugs over-the-counter to anyone
- Counsel patients, ensure valid prescriptions, maintain records, and liaise with RMPs for safe care
- Discourage reporting of complications
- Provide incorrect dosing to save costs
Correct Answer: Counsel patients, ensure valid prescriptions, maintain records, and liaise with RMPs for safe care
Q25. Which of the following is true about guardian consent for minors under the MTP Act?
- The pregnant minor’s own consent is primary; guardian involvement may be required for clinical care depending on competency and local rules
- Only the guardian can consent, the minor cannot
- Police must give consent for minors
- Minors are never allowed termination
Correct Answer: The pregnant minor’s own consent is primary; guardian involvement may be required for clinical care depending on competency and local rules
Q26. What is a pharmacist’s responsibility when storing mifepristone and misoprostol?
- Store without regard to temperature or expiry
- Store according to manufacturer recommendations, monitor expiry dates, and ensure secure stock management
- Keep them in public display
- Mix them with other OTC products
Correct Answer: Store according to manufacturer recommendations, monitor expiry dates, and ensure secure stock management
Q27. What is the significance of record-keeping and reporting of MTP procedures?
- There is no significance
- It supports legal compliance, clinical audit, pharmacovigilance, and public-health monitoring
- It allows public disclosure of patient identities
- It is used to penalize women seeking MTP
Correct Answer: It supports legal compliance, clinical audit, pharmacovigilance, and public-health monitoring
Q28. Which antibiotic policy applies routinely after medical abortion?
- Routine broad-spectrum antibiotics for all patients without indication
- Antibiotics only if indicated by clinical signs of infection or per local guidelines
- Antibiotics are banned after abortion
- Hospital discharge without any advice
Correct Answer: Antibiotics only if indicated by clinical signs of infection or per local guidelines
Q29. How should pharmacists respond if presented with a prescription for mifepristone without a valid RMP signature?
- Dispense without verifying
- Refuse to dispense and request a valid prescription from a registered medical practitioner
- Forge a signature
- Sell a substitute drug without prescription
Correct Answer: Refuse to dispense and request a valid prescription from a registered medical practitioner
Q30. What is the difference between emergency contraception and MTP?
- Emergency contraception is used to terminate an established pregnancy; MTP prevents pregnancy
- Emergency contraception prevents implantation shortly after unprotected intercourse, while MTP terminates an established intrauterine pregnancy
- They are the same and interchangeable
- Emergency contraception is used after 24 weeks
Correct Answer: Emergency contraception prevents implantation shortly after unprotected intercourse, while MTP terminates an established intrauterine pregnancy
I am a Registered Pharmacist under the Pharmacy Act, 1948, and the founder of PharmacyFreak.com. I hold a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree from Rungta College of Pharmaceutical Science and Research. With a strong academic foundation and practical knowledge, I am committed to providing accurate, easy-to-understand content to support pharmacy students and professionals. My aim is to make complex pharmaceutical concepts accessible and useful for real-world application.
Mail- Sachin@pharmacyfreak.com