India Saw More Than 5,000 Child Adoptions Last Year, Highest in a Decade

The Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) has reported over 5,000 child adoptions between April 2025 and March 2026, marking the highest number of adoptions in more than a decade. This surpasses even pre-pandemic levels.

One notable trend is the increasing demand for girls in adoption agencies. Last year saw an 8% increase in girl adoptions compared to the previous year, with 2,756 girls being adopted. Officials attribute this rise to a shift in mindset among prospective parents, but some experts suggest that higher numbers may also be due to more girls ending up in adoption agencies and orphanages.

India’s changing attitudes towards family formation are reflected in the growing trend of single individuals and couples opting for adoption as a means of building families. This shift is often attributed to increasing urbanization, education, and economic empowerment among Indians. However, the fact that more girls are being adopted raises questions about societal attitudes towards women’s reproductive rights.

The data also highlights the challenges faced by special needs children in the adoption process. Despite efforts to build awareness and counsel prospective parents on adopting special needs children, only 392 such children were adopted last year – a number that is still woefully inadequate given the vast pool of available special needs children. Eighty percent of all adoptable children fall into this category, underscoring the need for more targeted interventions to address their specific needs.

CARA’s CEO Bhavna Saxena attributes the increase in adoptions to a focused strategy on follow-up with specialized adoption agencies and child welfare committees. This approach has yielded tangible results, including the establishment of new child welfare committees and the registration of specialized agencies. However, critics argue that these efforts are insufficient given the scale of the challenge.

The long-term implications of this shift in India’s family formation landscape remain unclear. While the rise in adoptions may be seen as a positive trend, it also raises questions about demand for special needs children and how this will impact societal attitudes towards women’s reproductive rights.

As CARA continues to implement its strategies and outreach programs, it is crucial to monitor these developments closely. The Indian government must take an active role in addressing the systemic challenges that plague the adoption process. Ultimately, India’s adoption numbers serve as a reminder of the complexities involved in family formation. While numbers may indicate success, they often mask deeper issues that require nuanced solutions.

The Indian government would do well to address these trends and the systemic challenges plaguing the adoption process. Only then can we truly say that India’s adoption numbers are a reflection of progress rather than just a statistical anomaly.