India has seen a significant surge in child adoptions, reaching a decadal high with 4,515 adoptions recorded in the financial year 2024-25. This is the highest number of adoptions in over a decade, reflecting a positive shift in the country's adoption ecosystem.
Maharashtra has emerged as a leader in this trend, accounting for nearly 20% of the total adoptions in India. The state recorded 849 adoptions, marking a 38% increase from the previous fiscal year's tally of 522. This includes both inter-country and domestic adoptions. Within Maharashtra, domestic adoptions numbered 790, followed by Tamil Nadu (438) and West Bengal (297). In terms of international adoptions, Maharashtra again led with 59, followed by Punjab (41) and West Bengal (31).
Several factors have contributed to this increase in adoptions. The Ministry of Women and Child Development has played a crucial role by introducing various measures, including intensive identification drives that added 8,598 children to the adoption pool. The establishment of 245 new adoption agencies across the country, in collaboration with state governments, has further streamlined the adoption process. Digital interventions and enhanced awareness initiatives have also contributed to this positive trend. CARA conducted 45 virtual training sessions covering adoption timelines, training of Child Welfare Committee (CWC) members, foster care, and counseling for adoptive parents and children. CARA also held in-person orientation programs in 12 states and union territories.
Despite the increase in adoptions, a significant disparity remains between the number of prospective adoptive parents (PAPs) and the number of children legally available for adoption. Over 36,000 PAPs are currently on the waiting list, while only 2,749 children are legally available, according to CARA data. Of these, 1,808 are categorized as special-needs children. The average waiting time for PAPs is approximately three-and-a-half years.
Most PAPs prefer to adopt girls and children aged 0-2 years, which leaves older children and those with special needs under-placed. In the financial year 2024-25, 2,554 children adopted were girls, accounting for 56% of all adoptions in India. This preference for girls is attributed to several factors, including the belief that girls are more caring and affectionate and adapt more easily to family life. Additionally, there is a perception that it is easier to build emotional connections with infants and younger children.
Challenges persist in the adoption process, including lengthy legal procedures to declare children legally free for adoption. This process can take up to three years to complete, contributing to the low number of children available for adoption despite high demand. Children above seven years old are harder to place, and children with special needs face increased challenges. According to a Ministry of Women and Child Development report, only 364 children with special needs were reserved for adoption in 2024.
To address these challenges, several measures have been suggested, including nationwide campaigns, training and counseling, mandatory post-adoption support, addressing prejudices against older and special-needs adoptions, and increasing societal acceptance through education and policy advocacy. It is also crucial to prepare older children for adoption through counseling and psychological support to ensure a smooth transition and address any adjustment issues.
