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Extra No. 201
©
The Gujarat Government Gazette
EXTRAORDINARY
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
Vol. LXVII ] WEDNESDAY, JULY 15, 2026 / ASHADHA 24, 1948
Separate paging is given to this Part in order that it may be filed as a Separate Compilation.
PART IV-B
Rules and Orders (Other than those published in Parts I, I-A, and I-L) made
by the Government of Gujarat under the Gujarat Acts
SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT DEPARTMENT
NOTIFICATION
Sachivalaya, Gandhinagar, 15th July, 2026
No.: GHL-10/SJED/GCR/e-file/17/2026/1483/CHH-2:- WHEREAS the draft of Gujarat State Child Protection Policy
was published at pages 129-1 to 129-5 in the Gujarat Government Gazette, Extraordinary, Part IV-B, dated the
1st April, 2025, under the Government Notification, Social Justice and Empowerment Department No. GHL-05/SJED/
2025/1/2088/CHH, dated the 1st April, 2025, inviting objections or suggestions from such persons likely to be affected
thereby within the period of ninety days from the date of publication of the said notification in the Official Gazette;
AND WHEREAS the objections or suggestions received from such persons on the said draft notification have been
considered by the Government and also sub-rule (5) of rule 3 of the POCSO Rules, 2020, the Juvenile Justice (Care and
Protection of Children) Act, 2015, the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012, the subordinate rules
framed thereunder, the directions issued by the Hon'ble Supreme Court, the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of
Children) Model Rules, the School Safety and Hostel Guidelines issued by the National Commission for Protection of
Child Rights (NCPCR), the National Policy for Children, 2013, and the National Plan of Action for Children, 2016;
NOW, THEREFORE, the Government of Gujarat hereby publishes the Gujarat State Child Protection Policy,
namely: —
IV-B Ex.-201 201-1201-2 GUJARAT GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, EX., 15-07-2026 [ PART IV-B
Preamble:
All children deserve a happy childhood and the opportunity to lead a dignified life safe from violence, exploitation,
neglect, deprivation and discrimination. The Constitution of India recognizes children as equal right holders and grants
highest priority for their protection and well-being. India is also signatory to the United Nations Convention on the
Rights of the Child (UNCRC), the Constitution of India and the national policy for children, 2013 has a strong legal
framework to protect children which include the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act 2015; the
Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) with amendment in 2021 (JJ Act); the Protection of Children from
Sexual Offences Act 2020 (POCSO) and Rules 2020; Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT)
Act 1994; the Commission for Protection of Child Rights Act 2005; the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory
Education Act, 2009; Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006; with amendment in 2016; the Child and Adolescent
Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2016; IT and Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023; Rights
of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016; National Disaster Management Guidelines: School Safety Policy, 2013; Mental
Healthcare Act; HIV and AIDS (Prevention and Control) Act; Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act;
Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023; Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 and judgements of Hon. Supreme Court /
Hon. High Courts related to this subject.
The Policy also reflects India’s obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC),
the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, CEDAW and other relevant international human rights
instruments. It further aligns with the National Policy for Children, 2013, the National Plan of Action for Children,
2016 and Sustainable Development Goals.
The Government of Gujarat recognizes the rights of all children and the importance of upholding these rights for the
achievement of Gujarat’s and India’s growth and development. The State is committed to ensuring protection of all
children within the State, based on a rights-based approach, which implies promoting the safety and security of children
within the framework of their legally recognized rights including children’s right to participation.
1. Short Title:
1) This policy may be called the Gujarat State Child Protection Policy, 2026.
2) It shall come into force on the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.
2. Vision:
a) To create a society in Gujarat where every child is safe, respected, protected, empowered and facilitated
to realize his/her full potential, ensuring his/her rights to safety, education, health, and holistic
development through participation and empowerment.
b) Every child in the State, without discrimination on grounds of religion, caste, gender, social, economic,
political, cultural or geographical background shall be protected from all forms of violence, abuse,
neglect, and exploitation, and shall have equitable access to child protection services across all sectors.
c) To align the vision with Viksit Bharat and Viksit Gujarat, emphasizing social protection and development
for all children, and also emphasizing inclusivity and child rights.
3. Key Objectives of the Policy:
a) To create robust, child-centric and effective child protection mechanism.
b) To build the capacity of institutions, law enforcement and caregivers to provide effective and child
friendly care and protection.
c) Promote and strengthen inter-departmental, inter-agency and multi-sectoral convergence and
accountability.
4. Scope of the Policy:
a) The Gujarat State Child Protection Policy shall apply to all government departments, statutory bodies,
government agencies, NGOs, civil societies, institutions, and individuals who come into direct or indirect
contact with children, including Corporate and Business Houses, Industries, Media Organizations,
Resident Welfare Associations, Religious and Faith-based organizations, Child Care Institutions, and all
areas where children live, learn, play, receive care, or participate.PART IV-B ] GUJARAT GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, EX., 15-07-2026 201-3
b) It also covers children in vulnerable situations, including children in need of care and protection, children
in conflict with law, children with disabilities, migrant children, orphans, children belonging to Scheduled
Tribes, Scheduled Castes and other marginalized communities, children affected by trafficking, children
in street situations, children in institutional and alternative care, transgender and intersex children,
children affected by HIV /AIDS or Chronic illness, children affected by natural disasters, and children in
conflict zones.
c) This Policy applies to everyone within the jurisdiction of the State of Gujarat.
5. Definitions:
a) “Child” means any person under the age of 18 years or one who has not completed eighteen years of age
as per Section 2 (k) of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015.
b) “Child Protection” means the prevention of, and response to, exploitation, abuse, neglect, harmful
practices and violence against children.
c) “Child Protection System” comprises human resources, finance, laws and policies, governance,
monitoring and data collection as well as protection and response services and care management of
children. It includes different actors – children, families, communities, those working at subnational or
national level and those working internationally.
Under Integrated Child Protection Scheme (now as Mission Vatsalya), Child Protection encompasses protecting
children from actual or potential risks to their life, dignity, development and well-being; reducing their vulnerability to
harm; preventing exclusion from social protection systems; and ensuring timely access to care, protection, rehabilitation
and justice whenever required. Unless otherwise specified, definitions contained in the Juvenile Justice (Care and
Protection of Children) Act, 2015 and applicable child related laws shall apply.
6. Guiding Principles:
The Policy is based on the principle of Zero tolerance of child abuse and exploitation. Additionally, the following
principles should be applied in framing child protection policy:
a) Best Interest of the Child
b) Equality and non-discrimination
c) Right to Survival, Development and Well-being
d) Respect to the views of the Child
e) Dignity, Respect and Child Friendly Practices
f) Family Strengthening and Preservation
g) Alternative Care as a Measure of Last Resort
h) Safety and Freedom from Violence
i) Privacy and Confidentiality
j) Accountability
k) Partnership & Convergence
7. Government Priorities: Recognizing the evolving nature of risks faced by children in Gujarat, the Government
shall prioritize the following strategies:
a) Prevention of Violence Against Children: The Government recognizes that prevention is the most
effective and sustainable approach to child protection. Accordingly, the government commits to –
Strengthen Families at the first line of Protection; Build Protective Communities; Promote Behavior
Change
b) Create Safe Environment: Every setting where children live, learn or receive services shall progressively
adopt child safeguarding measures. The government shall promote Child-safe schools, child-safe health
care facilities; child-safe child care institutions; child-safe workplaces; child-safe digital environments;
child-safe public spaces201-4 GUJARAT GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, EX., 15-07-2026 [ PART IV-B
c) Ensure Timely Protection and Quality Response: Every child requiring protection shall have timely
access to coordinate, child friendly and rights-based services. The Government commits to early
identification and referral; child-sensitive justice; recovery, rehabilitation and reintegration; Mental
Health and Psychosocial support services.
d) Strengthening Child Protection Systems: The Government commits to strengthening institutions
responsible for child protection through adequate financing; skilled human resources; technology-enabled
information systems; child budgeting; operational guidelines and continuous capacity development of the
child protection workforce.
e) Ensure Online safety and Emerging risks: The government shall strengthen cyber security, prevention and
response mechanisms relating to use of internet, social media platforms and digital technology.
8. Implementation Framework: Implementation shall be undertaken through a phased manner.
a) Department of Social Justice and Empowerment shall be the Nodal Department – to coordinate
implementation, lead convergence, issue operational guidelines, oversee monitoring and facilitate annual
review.
b) Every Department shall prepare annual implementation plans aligned to this policy.
c) Allied departments shall develop operational guidelines, protocols within one-year period of notification
of this policy.
d) Government shall establish a continuous learning framework for all child protection and allied
functionaries.
e) All organizations and institutions should designate responsibility to a specific member / member of staff
for ensuring that procedures and arrangements are in place within the organization to protect children and
report any abuse, exploitation or neglect in line with the guidelines and existing laws.
9. Institutional Accountability: Effective implementation of the Policy requires clearly defined institutional
responsibilities. The Government of Gujarat shall provide overall policy direction, develop, implement and
monitor State Action Plans for Child Protection and ensure adequate financing.
a) Professionals who provide services to children (teachers, counsellors, doctors/ other health workers and
others) must follow child protection policy for reporting and taking action if they become concerned
about a child's safety and welfare.
b) Any individual who suspects physical, sexual or emotional abuse including online abuse of children,
circulation of child sexual abuse materials, child marriage, child labour, child trafficking, maltreatment of
children, discrimination against child on the account of gender, caste, religion, language, disability or any
other, abandonment or neglect of a child, must report the incidence to CHILDLINE 1098/112 or any
other helpline for that matter, police or Child Welfare Committee. Identity of the informant shall be
protected and shall not be made public.
c) Medical establishments (hospital and clinics), doctors and health workers cannot refuse treatment or
discriminate on the basis of gender, sexual orientation, disability, caste, religion, tribe, language, marital
status, occupation, political belief, or other status. Refusal of medical care to survivors/victims of sexual
violence and acid attack amounts to an offence under Section - 200 of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023
read with Section - 397 of The Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023
10. Monitoring Framework: The Government of Gujarat, and all other relevant authorities, civil society
organizations, families and the wider community, shall work in collaboration and partnership to effectively
realize the vision of this Gujarat Child Protection Policy and achieve results for children.
a) The Chief Secretary, Government of Gujarat shall review the implementation of Gujarat CPP annually.
b) The Department of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of Gujarat shall facilitate this review
in coordination with the concerned departments that provide services to children.
c) Monitoring the implementation of this Policy, shall be undertaken by the Gujarat Child Protection Society
(GSCPS).PART IV-B ] GUJARAT GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, EX., 15-07-2026 201-5
11. Training & Capacity Building: The State shall promote regular training and capacity building to strengthen the
knowledge, skills, and competencies of all stakeholders for the prevention, identification, reporting, and effective
response to child protection concerns, including
a) Institutions and organizations working directly with children must develop age-appropriate modules and
materials for orientating children on child abuse, online safety and services available for them.
b) Institutions and organizations working directly with children must train all employees on child rights,
provisions of the POCSO Act, 2012; JJ Act 2015 and other legislation for children and ensure that
corporal punishment, bullying and any other form of abuse is prevented. All employees should be familiar
with signs and behaviors that may be indicative of child abuse/exploitation or neglect.
12. Guidelines for Organizations, Institutions and Establishments
a) All departments, institutions and organizations should develop a child protection policy and code of
conduct for employees in line with the national guidelines and various legislations for protection and
welfare of children and display it appropriately.
b) All employees/ contractual workers must sign the declaration for child protection and agree to abide by it
(Draft declaration at Annexure - 1).
c) The CHILDLINE 1098/112 or any other helpline for that matter and contact details of designated officer
for child protection must be displayed appropriately.
d) Corporate houses and industries must establish and strengthen monitoring mechanisms to ensure those
industries/subsidiaries are not using child labour in any form.
e) Institutions and organizations working directly with children must ensure stringent background check
(including police verification) of all employees regular or contractual, volunteers and others who may
come in contact with children.
f) Crèches/mobile crèches for employee's children including those on daily wages/contractual basis if the
number of employees is fifty or above; otherwise, appropriate space and facility for baby care to be
provided for mothers with infants.
g) Child-friendly zones must be developed in all public places and safe spaces for mothers to keep their
infants.
13. Code of Conduct: The code of conduct for employees/contractual workers must lay down that they should
always treat children with empathy and respect, regardless of race, color, gender, sexuality, language, religion,
political or other opinion, national, ethnic or social origin, property, disability, birth or other status. The code of
conduct must be laid down that staff members must never:
a) Use language or behavior towards children that is inappropriate, harassing, abusive, sexually provocative,
demeaning or culturally inappropriate.
b) Develop or induce or support in any way physical/sexual relationships with children.
c) Develop any form of relationship or arrangement with children which could in any way be deemed to be
exploitative or abusive.
d) Place a child at risk of abuse or exploitation or be aware of these and not report it or not do anything
about it.
e) Organizations who undertake research and collect data on children, directly from children or indirectly
from parents/community must ensure that children are not harmed or traumatized in any way during the
process. All research staff must be trained on ethical practices and child friendly procedures.
14. Compliance and Action:
a) All departments/individual/organization/institution shall work to achieve objectives of the policy.
b) Failure/willful non action by any government department, institution, agency, organization, or individual
covered under this Policy to comply with its provisions shall invite appropriate administrative,201-6 GUJARAT GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, EX., 15-07-2026 [ PART IV-B
disciplinary, contractual, or legal action, as applicable, in accordance with the relevant service rules,
departmental regulations, contractual conditions and applicable laws. (Refer to Annexure - 2).
15. This policy shall be reviewed every three years or earlier to monitor the progress and outcomes of the policy.
Annexure - 1
Declaration by all employees/employer
I ,…………… , ………….… (name and position of the employee), from…………….. (name of the organization)
hereby declare that:
1. I will always respect all children, regardless of age, disability, gender, racial heritage, religious belief, sexual
orientation or identity;
2. Support their right to equal protection from all types of harm or abuse;
3. I will not employ any child as defined under Child Labour (prohibition and regulation) Amendment Act, 2016.
4. I will always report any case of child abuse, exploitation and neglect which comes to my knowledge to
appropriate authority and will not harm or abuse any child physically, emotionally or sexually.
(Name of the employee)
(Name and designation of the employer)
(Name of the organization/institution)
Annexure - 2
The following offences/ behaviors are punishable by law and it is the duty of every adult citizen to abide by these laws:
Offences / Behaviours Laws
Sexual assault, sexual harassment, use of child for Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act 2012
pornographic purpose and other applicable law/provisions.
Production, dissemination and use of child sexual abuse The Information Technology Act, 2000 and other
materials applicable law/provisions.
Disclosing identity of the child victim to anyone other Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act 2012, JJ
than appropriate authority Act, 2015 and other applicable law/provisions.
Sale and procurement of children for any purpose JJ Act 2015; Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act 1956;
including illegal adoption, trafficking of children for Sections 143 and 144 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita
sexual exploitation, use of children by militant groups, (BNS), 2023 and other applicable law/provisions.
giving children intoxicating liquor, narcotic drug or
tobacco products or psychotropic substances, offences
against disabled children, trafficking of children for sexual
exploitation/exploitative labour/other reasons and,
kidnapping
Corporal punishment in child care institutions JJ Act, 2015, Section-68 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita
(BNS), 2023 and other applicable law/provisions.
Corporal Punishment in schools Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act,
2009, Section-65 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS),
2023 and other applicable law/provisions.
Adopting a child without due procedure through JJ Act, 2015, Sections 143 and 144 of the Bharatiya
CARINGS and child welfare committees/ promoting or Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023) and other applicable law/
facilitating such illegal adoption provisions.PART IV-B ] GUJARAT GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, EX., 15-07-2026 201-7
Offences / Behaviours Laws
Employment of children below 14 years in any occupation Child and Adolescent Labour (Prohibition and Regulation)
or industry Amendment Act, 2016, Sections 146 and 147 of the
Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023) and other
applicable law/provisions.
Employment of children 15-18 years in hazardous Child and Adolescent Labour (Prohibition and Regulation)
occupation or industries Amendment Act, 2016, Sections 146 and 147 of the
Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023) and other
applicable law/provisions.
Marrying a child/promoting or solemnizing child marriage Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, Protection of
Children from Sexual Offences Act 2012 and other
applicable law/provisions.
Pre-natal diagnostic techniques for determination of the (PCPNDT) Act, 1994 and other applicable law/provisions.
sex of the fetus leading to female feticide.
By order and in the name of the Governor of Gujarat,
KISHOR RATHAVA,
Deputy Secretary to Government.
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Government Central Press, Gandhinagar.