Understanding and Expanding the Role of Pediatricians in Child Adoption in the Backdrop of Emerging Regulations in India: A Contemporary Review.

ABSTRACT

Adoption provides a unique opportunity to establish stable family relationships and enhance the social safety net. In India, adoptions are governed by the Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act, 1956, and the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, each with distinct eligibility criteria. Currently, approximately 33,870 Indian couples are registered as prospective adoptive parents (PAPs), and this number is rising. The Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) website lists 2,140 children available for adoption, with 731 being categorized as normal and 1,409 as special needs. CARA, under the Ministry of Women and Child Development, oversees both domestic and international adoptions of legally free orphaned, abandoned, and surrendered children. The scope of adoption has expanded from primarily young infants to include older children, children with special needs, and foster care, in line with the National Child Policy. Pediatricians play a crucial role in the adoption process, understanding medical aspects within the legislative framework and acting in the child's best interests. This involves collaborating with multiple stakeholders, conducting comprehensive pre-adoption medical examinations, and providing ongoing medical and behavioral support post-adoption. This review emphasizes recent changes in adoption practices in India and highlights the evolving role of pediatricians as champions for these children and their adoptive families.