Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) under the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) has launched the Adoption Awareness 2026 campaign to promote legal, safe, transparent and child-centric adoption in India.
Theme for 2026
“Legal Adoption. Safe Childhood. Secure Future. Say No to Illegal Adoption!”
The campaign focuses on protecting children from illegal adoption and trafficking while ensuring that adoption decisions are guided by the best interests of the child.
Year-Round Awareness Campaign
Unlike the earlier practice of concentrating adoption awareness activities mainly in November, State/UT-level Adoption Awareness Workshops will be organised from September 2026 onwards throughout the year.
The workshops will help stakeholders:
- Understand the legal/statutory adoption process
- Improve coordination between departments
- Identify and tackle illegal adoption practices
- Strengthen child-centric adoption procedures
The campaign will involve Women and Child Development Departments, Child Welfare Committees (CWCs), District Child Protection Units, Specialised Adoption Agencies, Child Care Institutions, police, health departments, judiciary, Legal Services Authorities, hospitals, medical professionals, ASHA/ANM workers, civil society, media and digital platforms.
Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA)
CARA is the statutory apex and nodal authority for adoption of Indian children, particularly orphaned, abandoned and surrendered children, under the Ministry of Women and Child Development.
- Established: 1990 as an autonomous body
- Statutory status: Granted under Section 68 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, as amended in 2021
- International role: Acts as India’s Central Authority for inter-country adoption under the 1993 Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption, which India ratified in 2003
- Main objective: Ensure ethical, transparent and child-centric adoption, prevent trafficking and help children find safe and permanent families
CARA Major Functions
- Facilitates domestic and inter-state adoptions, giving priority to Indian resident families.
- Regulates inter-country adoptions involving NRIs, OCIs and foreign prospective adoptive parents.
- Frames and updates adoption regulations, including the Adoption Regulations, 2022.
- Operates CARINGS (Child Adoption Resource Information and Guidance System), a centralised digital platform integrated with Mission Vatsalya, for transparent processing, confidential records and tracking of adoption applications.
- Accredits and monitors Specialised Adoption Agencies, supports pre-adoption foster care and promotes placement of older children and children with special medical needs.