Executive Summary:
This document contains the answer provided by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Women and Child Development to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1074, concerning the Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA). The response addresses the pendency of adoption cases, average waiting times, reasons for delays, plans to simplify procedures, and monitoring of adoption agencies. The data provided is current as of July 25, 2025.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Adoption Process and Regulations:**
* CARA operates with stakeholders according to the Adoption Regulation, 2022.
* Adoption Regulation, 2022, includes timelines for authorities and agencies in Schedule XIV.
* Child referral and adoption depend on Prospective Adoptive Parents' (PAPs) preferences (age, health, state) indicated on the CARINGS portal.
* The online referral system expedites the placement of children, minimizing their time in institutions.
* **Government Initiatives:**
* The Juvenile Justice Care and Protection of Children Act, 2015 (amended in 2021) empowers District Magistrates to monitor agencies responsible for implementing the Act, including adoption matters.
* The entire adoption process is online and transparent via the CARINGS portal.
* CARA conducts regular training sessions, including weekly virtual refresher programs, to promote and facilitate adoption.
* **Data on Children Awaiting Adoption:**
* As of July 25, 2025, 2768 children are awaiting adoption across various States and Union Territories.
* The State/UT-wise number of children awaiting adoption is detailed in the annexure, with Maharashtra having the highest number (250) and Ladakh and Lakshadweep having none.
Impact Analysis:
* **Prospective Adoptive Parents (PAPs):**
* Impact: PAPs are affected by the online registration process, preference-based matching, and the timelines specified in the Adoption Regulation, 2022.
* Action Required: PAPs should register on the CARINGS portal, clearly indicate their preferences, and be aware of the timelines involved in the adoption process.
* **Adoption Agencies:**
* Impact: Agencies are subject to monitoring and must adhere to the guidelines and timelines set forth in the Adoption Regulation, 2022, and the Juvenile Justice Act.
* Action Required: Agencies must comply with the online processes, participate in training sessions, and ensure transparent operations.
* **Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA):**
* Impact: CARA is responsible for overseeing and facilitating the adoption process, ensuring compliance with regulations, and promoting adoption awareness.
* Action Required: CARA must continue to conduct training, monitor agencies, and maintain the CARINGS portal to ensure transparency and efficiency.
* **District Magistrates:**
* Impact: Empowered to coordinate and monitor the functions of agencies responsible for implementation of the JJ Act, 2015, which include adoption related matters
* Action Required: Effectively coordinate and monitor functions of the agencies responsible for implementation of the JJ Act, 2015 which include adoption related matters
Key Entities Referenced
Central Adoption Resource Authority: A statutory body of the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India, responsible for regulating and monitoring adoption in India.
Adoption Regulation, 2022: The set of rules and guidelines governing the adoption process in India, as specified by the Central Adoption Resource Authority.
Ministry of Women and Child Development: The Indian government ministry responsible for policies and programs related to women and children.
Juvenile Justice Care and Protection of Children Act, 2015: An act of the Indian Parliament that deals with children in conflict with the law and children in need of care and protection.
District Magistrate: An administrative officer in India empowered to coordinate and monitor agencies responsible for implementation of the Juvenile Justice Care and Protection of Children Act, 2015, including adoption matters.
CARINGS portal: The online portal used for the entire adoption process in India, ensuring transparency.
Andhra Pradesh: A state in India with 128 children awaiting adoption.
West Bengal: A state in India with 352 children awaiting adoption.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1074
TO BE ANSWERED ON 25.07.2025
CENTRAL ADOPTION RESOURCE AUTHORITY
1074. ADV. GOWAAL KAGADA PADAVI:
Will the Minister of Women and Child Development be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Ministry has any data on the pendency of adoption cases under the
Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) and if so, the details thereof;
(b) the details of the average waiting time for adoption currently;
(c) whether the Ministry has identified any reasons for delays in adoption processing
and if so, the details thereof;
(d) whether there are any plans to simplify/fast-track adoption procedures and if so, the
details thereof; and
(e) whether the Ministry proposes to strengthen monitoring of adoption agencies for
transparency and if so, the details of awareness campaign conducted to promote
legal adoption thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
(SHRIMATI SAVITRI THAKUR)
(a): The Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) works with different stakeholders for
adoption related matters as per laid down process and procedure under the Adoption
Regulation, 2022. The State/UTs-wise number of children currently awaiting adoption in the
country is at Annexure.
(b) to (e): The Adoption Regulation, 2022, mentions the timelines for authorities and
agencies regarding adoption matters in the Schedule-XIV. The referral and adoption of a
child depends upon the preference made by the Prospective Adoptive Parents (PAPs)
regarding age, health condition, State of the child during online registration on the CARINGSportal. However, the children do not have to wait in the institutions on account of the online
referral system enabling placement of children in adoption expeditiously.
The Government has notified the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act,
2015 (as amended in 2021), which empowers the District Magistrate to effectively
coordinate and monitor functions of the agencies responsible for implementation of the JJ
Act, 2015 which include adoption related matters.
The entire adoption process is online and transparent through CARINGS portal. Further,
CARA regularly holds training sessions, including weekly virtual refresher programs that are
accessible nationwide to promote and facilitate adoption.
*****ANNEXURE
ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) OF THE LOK SABHA UN-
STARRED QUESTION NO. 1074 FOR ANSWER ON 25.07.2025 BY ADV GOWAAL
KAGADA PADAVI REGARDING CENTRAL ADOPTION RESOURCE AUTHORITY
State/UTs-wise number of children currently awaiting adoption
Sr. No. State
Number of Children
1 Andaman and Nicobar Islands 2
2 Andhra Pradesh 128
3 Arunachal Pradesh 8
4 Assam 36
5 Bihar 196
6 Chandigarh 13
7 Chhattisgarh 45
8 Delhi 176
9 Goa 8
10 Gujarat 27
11 Haryana 76
12 Himachal Pradesh 9
13 Jammu and Kashmir 8
14 Jharkhand 41
15 Karnataka 106
16 Kerala 45
17 Ladakh 0
18 Lakshadweep 0
19 Madhya Pradesh 139
20 Maharashtra 250
21 Manipur 7
22 Meghalaya 8
23 Mizoram 19
24 Nagaland 4
25 Odisha 262
26 Puducherry 3
27 Punjab 112
28 Rajasthan 7529 Sikkim 12
30 Tamil Nadu 53
31 Telangana 201
32 The Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu 1
33 Tripura 5
34 Uttar Pradesh 318
35 Uttarakhand 23
36 West Bengal 352
Total 2768
*****