**Core Concept**
The Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act is a landmark legislation in India that regulates the termination of pregnancy. This Act aims to balance the woman's right to choose with the need to protect the unborn child and ensure that abortion is performed safely and with medical supervision.

**Why the Correct Answer is Right**
The MTP Act was passed in 1971 to provide a legal framework for abortion in India. This Act was a significant step towards ensuring that women have access to safe and legal abortion services. The Act allows for the termination of pregnancy under certain conditions, including when the pregnancy poses a risk to the woman's life or health, or in cases of fetal abnormalities. The Act also requires that abortions be performed by a qualified medical practitioner in a hospital or clinic.

**Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect**
**Option A:** 1981 is incorrect because the MTP Act was passed much earlier, in 1971.
**Option C:** 1957 is incorrect because the MTP Act was not passed in this year; in fact, the first MTP Act was passed in 1971, and it has undergone several amendments since then.
**Option D:** 1961 is incorrect because there is no record of an MTP Act being passed in this year.

**Clinical Pearl / High-Yield Fact**
The MTP Act has undergone several amendments since its passage in 1971, including the 1975, 1994, and 2021 amendments. These amendments have aimed to make the Act more woman-friendly and to reduce the number of complications arising from unsafe abortions.

✓ Correct Answer: A. 1971