“Couples are not allowed to adopt a child until they have stable marital relationships” mention in the regulations. A person can adopt the child irrespective of their financial and marital status, whether or not he/she has a biological son/daughter.

Nowadays a substantial number of families registering for child adoption. Cara (Central Adoption Resource Authority) stated to Express Parenting.  CARA is the nodal body for the adoption of Indian children and is mandated to promote and facilitate in-country adoptions and regulate inter-country adoptions, as Central Authority of Government of India.

CARA has shown there were about 3374 domestic and 653 inter-country adoptions in the financial year 2018-19. And there are those who are opting for adoption even after having a biological kid. And most people adopting girl children.

“People are adopting girl children these days. There has been a societal change in terms of awareness but we still have a long way to go,” remarks Deepak Kumar 

The need of the hour is to sensitize not just parents but also the future generation in schools and other institutions for increased acceptance of adoption in the years to come, he believes.

We all need to keep one thing in mind that adoption is not an act of charity. It is about taking absolute care and responsibility of a child as you give them a home and a family, no different from that of a biological child. So, if you are supposing to adopt a child, here is everything you need to know before registering for child adoption.

Rules & Regulation of Adopting Child(Who can adopt)

As per the Adoption Regulations 2017 and in accordance with the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, issued by the Ministry of Women and Child Development:

1. The prospective adoptive parents (PAP) “should be physically, mentally, and emotionally stable, financially capable and shall not have any life-threatening medical condition.”

2. A person can adopt irrespective of their marital status and whether or not he or she has a biological son or daughter.

3. A single female can adopt a child of any gender but a single male shall not be eligible to adopt a girl child. In the case of a married couple, both spouses should give their consent for adoption.

4. “No child shall be given in adoption to a couple unless they have at least two years of stable marital relationship,” mention the regulations.

5. Couples with three or more children shall not be considered for adoption “except in case of special need children”, “hard to place children” and in case of “relative adoption and adoption by step-parent”.

Apart from resident and non-resident Indians, even overseas citizens of India and foreign parents can adopt children from the country.