New Delhi: India has achieved a significant milestone in child adoptions, with a record 4,515 adoptions in the fiscal year 2024-25, marking the highest number in 12 years. Of these, 4,155 were domestic adoptions, reflecting growing acceptance of legal adoption in the country. This achievement is the result of a series of initiatives by the Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA), which strengthened the adoption process and made it more accessible, the Ministry of Women and Child Development stated today.
The Ministry claimed a major factor in this surge has been CARA’s identification drive, which introduced 8,598 newly identified children into the adoption pool. This drive, aimed at identifying children in need of adoption, ensured that more children were eligible for adoption and found families. Additionally, 245 new adoption agencies were set up across the country in collaboration with state governments to streamline the adoption process and expand access to potential adoptive families.
Savitri Thakur, Minister of State for Women and Child Development, remarked, “The increase in adoptions reflects the growing commitment to providing children with loving homes. This record-breaking achievement underscores the importance of collaboration between the central government, states, and adoption agencies.”
Key Initiatives and Awareness Drives
To further support the adoption process, CARA stated it launched several initiatives throughout the year. The authority conducted physical orientations and virtual training sessions across 12 states and union territories. These sessions focused on improving adoption timelines, providing training to Child Welfare Committee (CWC) members, and counseling prospective adoptive parents (PAPs) on the adoption process.
As part of an Adoption Awareness Campaign, CARA also partnered with 16 states to organize meetings with adoptive parents from October 2024 to January 2025. The annual conclave held in November 2024 focused on foster care and adoption advocacy, with over 500 stakeholders participating and discussing the importance of strengthening family-based care.
Dr Rakesh Kumar, Director of CARA, explained, “These initiatives have not only enhanced awareness but have also helped create a deeper understanding of adoption across the country. The growing number of adoptions is a direct result of our efforts to make the adoption process more transparent and accessible.”
Strengthening the Adoption Framework
A significant part of CARA’s efforts involved enhancing the digital infrastructure to simplify and speed up the adoption process. The CARINGS portal, used for managing adoption procedures, was upgraded to include new modules for in-country relative adoptions and step-parent adoptions. These changes have reduced the average processing time for adoptions to just 3-4 months, ensuring a quicker and more efficient process for adoptive families.
“The digital transformation in the adoption process has been a game-changer,” said Dr. Kumar. “The updated portal makes the adoption experience smoother and more transparent for all parties involved, ensuring children are placed in homes more quickly.”
Focus on Foster Care and Alternate Family Care
In addition to increasing adoptions, CARA has also made strides in promoting foster care as an alternate form of family-based care. In 2024, CARA introduced Foster Care and Foster Adoption modules on the CARINGS portal, ensuring better placement for older children who may not be adopted but are still in need of family care. These initiatives aim to improve the emotional and social well-being of children in care.
“We are working to ensure that children who are not immediately adopted still have the opportunity to grow up in a safe and supportive environment,” said Dr. Kumar. “Foster care is an important alternative that helps provide a nurturing family experience for older children.”
Looking Ahead
With the highest adoption numbers in over a decade, CARA’s efforts in FY 2024-25 have demonstrated the growing success of India’s adoption ecosystem. By continuing to refine processes, enhance awareness, and implement digital solutions, CARA aims to ensure that every child in need of a home is given the chance to find a loving family.
– global bihari bureau
