India sees record 4,515 child adoptions, highest in 12 years

India recorded 4,515 child adoptions in FY 2024-25, the highest in over a decade, according to the Ministry of Women and Child Development. Of these, 4,155 were domestic adoptions, reflecting a rising acceptance of legal adoption in the country.

This milestone was achieved through a strengthened identification drive by the Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA), which added 8,598 children to the adoption pool. CARA, a statutory body under the Ministry, also worked with state governments to establish 245 new adoption agencies, streamlining the process further.

To boost adoption awareness, CARA conducted physical state orientations in 12 states and UTs, along with 45 virtual training sessions covering adoption timelines, CWC member training, foster care, and counseling for children and prospective adoptive parents. Between October 2024 and January 2025, CARA partnered with 16 states to organize meets with adoptive parents.

Following Supreme Court directives, a comprehensive child identification exercise categorized children into five groups—orphans, abandoned, surrendered, those with no visitation, and those with unfit guardians. Additionally, CARA introduced foster care and adoption modules on the CARINGS portal, cutting adoption processing time to 3-4 months.

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