Ministry of Women and Child Development Adoption Process Digitization
The Ministry of Women and Child Development, as the nodal ministry for the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, has implemented comprehensive digitization of the adoption process through the CARINGS-Mission Vatsalya portal. All 795 Specialised Adoption Agencies (SAAs) approved under the Mission Vatsalya Scheme as of July 29, 2026, across all State Governments and Union Territory Administrations, are mandatorily onboarded onto the integrated system.
The digital platform enables end-to-end processing of adoption cases including referral, matching, and documentation, with compliance monitored through real-time dashboards at Central and State levels. The system aims to reduce delays and maintain transparency in adoption procedures, with timelines defined for each stakeholder under Schedule XIV of the Adoption Regulations 2022.
Financial support for establishment and strengthening of SAAs is provided under the Mission Vatsalya Scheme. The waiting period for Prospective Adoptive Parents persists due to more waiting parents compared to available children declared legally free for adoption by Child Welfare Committees, though the online referral system enables expedited adoption of Legally Free for Adoption children.