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In a recent ruling, India’s Supreme Court made significant additions to abortion rights, saying every woman – married or unmarried – should be able to make reproductive choices without interference from the State. The verdict has made headlines in a country known for its patriarchal society, where women have little sexual autonomy. Pre-marital sex is taboo, while marital rape is not recognised as a crime. Moreover, an alarmingly large number of women in India go through unsafe abortions.

Does a landmark ruling translate into effective implementation on the ground? Will this help change the mindset towards women’s reproductive rights? Can abortions be made acceptable across the country’s largely rural landscape?

Presenter: Divya Arya
Contributors: Sakshi Bhatt, media professional; Dr Jahnvi Andharia, director and research fellow, Institute of Social Studies Trust; Dr Anjali Kumar, senior consultant gynaecologist and founder of Maitri Woman's Health