India Records Highest Child Adoptions in a Decade: Over 5,000 Children Placed in 2025-26
NEW DELHI: Amid a persistent gap between the number of prospective adoptive parents and available children, India recorded 5,022 child adoptions between April 2025 and March 2026 — the highest in over a decade, according to data released by the Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA).
Of these, 4,603 were domestic adoptions and 419 were inter-country adoptions. The figure marks a significant increase from 4,515 adoptions in 2024-25 and represents the highest annual total since CARA began publishing detailed records in 2015-16.
According to CARA, 2,756 of the adopted children were girls, 2,263 were boys, and three were in the 'others' category. Adoptions of girls rose by 8% compared to the previous year, when 2,554 girls were adopted. Officials noted that the higher number of girl children adopted reflects both a shift in societal attitudes and the fact that more girls are available in the adoption pool due to historical neglect.
Adoption of children with special needs saw a notable increase: 392 such children were adopted in 2025-26, a 25% rise from 313 in 2024-25. CARA CEO Bhavna Saxena attributed this to focused awareness campaigns and counselling for prospective parents. “We started regional consultations and found parents were encouraged to consider children with special needs. We will strengthen outreach this year,” she said.
The number of adoptions by relatives and step-parents also rose sharply, from 820 to 1,231 — an increase of 50%.
Despite the record numbers, challenges remain. Nearly 26,000 prospective adoptive parents are on the waiting list, while most children available in specialised adoption agencies (SAAs) are older or have special needs. About 80% of children declared free for adoption fall under the special needs category. Infants and very young children, who are in high demand, are adopted quickly, leaving older children and those with special needs in the pool for longer. The average waiting time for an infant is about three years.
To improve the system, CARA has strengthened its 'identification cell' to ensure eligible children are declared free for adoption without delays. Over the past year, 118 new child welfare committees and 52 new SAAs were registered, and 266 SAAs have been activated since July 2024.
Historical data shows adoptions have fluctuated: from 3,677 in 2015-16, they crossed 4,000 for the first time in 2018-19, dipped during the pandemic, and recovered to cross 4,000 again in 2023-24.
