Question : Adoption of Children

(a) whether in-country and inter country adoption of children by Indian/Foreign parents has declined during each of the last three years and the current year;

(b) if so, the details thereof, State/UT-wise and the reasons therefor;

(c) whether the Government has received requests/representations to simplify the procedure for adoption of children in the country;

(d) if so, the details thereof, State/UT-wise along with the action taken/being taken thereon;

(e) whether the Government has recently outlined certain ‘special circumstances’ to allow prospective parents to jump the queue in adoption of children in the country; and

(f) if so, the details thereof along with the number of applications received and children adopted quoting such special circumstances so far across the country?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
(DR. VIRENDRA KUMAR)

(a) & (b): State/UT-wise number of In-country and Inter-country adoptions under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 (JJ Act) during the last three years and the current year is Annexed.

(c) & (d): On the basis of inputs/ suggestions received from various stakeholders viz - Specialised Adoption Agencies (SAAs), Authorised Foreign Adoption Agencies (AFAAs), State Adoptions Resource Agencies (SARAs), District Child Protection Units (DCPUs), etc. and comments received after posting the draft Adoption Regulations on MWCD’s website, the Adoption Regulations, 2017 has been framed by the CARA under Section 68(c) of JJ Act. The same has been notified by the Government of India under Section 2(3) of the said Act, which has come in force w.e.f. 16th January, 2017. These Regulations have been made keeping in mind the “best interests of the child” and for simplifying/streamlining the adoption process as well as for bringing greater transparency in the adoption system.


(e) & (f): Prospective Adoptive Parents (PAPs) who have lost their child/children through known cause (sickness/accident) and Single woman over 40 years of age, as a class, are provided priority in accordance to Regulation 60 of Adoption Regulations 2017. Till date, applications of 380 single women have been received. And as of now, 13 PAPs and 18 single women have been given priority.

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