How to Adopt a Baby in India

When I was trying to conceive, I had a lot of difficulties. At first, I was not very sure if I would make a very good parent. I am hardly able to take care of myself and my husband, leave aside a small baby. However, after five years of my marriage when I somehow managed to convince my mind that I will be able to manage a baby, reality struck. I was not being able to conceive. After months and months of being on fertility pills and a lot of blood tests, I was now desperate to have a child. But my body was not complying with my needs and as such, I waited and waited till I would have a miracle.

One and a half years passed by and it was at this time that I contemplated having an adoption. My husband was supportive of it and we decided to adopt a baby by next year if I was still unable to conceive on my own. However, the next year, I was blessed with the good news of being pregnant. But the thought of adopting still crosses my mind and I still feel that somewhere in the future I may want to adopt a baby.

What is Adoption?

Adoption is the legal term for the permanent transfer of all parental rights from one person or a couple to another person or a couple. When you adopt a child you have the same rights and responsibilities as a biological parent. The child share the same emotional, social, legal, and kinship benefits as that of biological children.

Why Do you Need to Adopt?

One of the reasons for adoption in India is due to infertility. However, this is not the only reason. Nowadays more and more people are going towards adoption because they do not want to contribute towards overpopulation. It may stem out of the belief that it is more responsible to care for orphaned children than to reproduce.

Some adopt because they have some health concerns relating to pregnancy or childbirth. But adopting does not only happen to married couples alone. A lot of unmarried people, single mothers, and fathers can also adopt provided they follow the guidelines which consist in adopting.

Where Can you Adopt a Baby?

Adoptions in India are needed to follow the procedure for in-country or inter-country adoption set out by the Central Adoption Resource Agency. (CARA) CARA is a statutory body of the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India. It functions as the nodal body for the adoption of Indian children. It is designated as the Central Authority to deal with inter-country adoptions by the provisions of the Hague Convention on Inter-country Adoption 1993. And was ratified by the Government of India in 2003. CARA principally deals with the adoption of orphaned, abandoned, and surrendered children through its associated and recognized adoption agencies.

What are the eligibility criteria for adopting a child?

1. While adopting a baby, CARA will check whether the prospective adoptive parents are physically, mentally, and emotionally stable. They have to be financially capable and should not have any life-threatening medical condition.
2. A prospective adoptive parent(PAP) irrespective of his marital status and or if he has any biological children can adopt a child provided he has the following considerations-
3. In the case of a married couple, the consent of both spouses shall be required.
4. A single female can adopt a child from any gender.
5. However, a single male cannot adopt a girl child.
6. A couple must have at least two years of stable marital relationship before they can be given a child for adoption.

Age Criteria

1. The minimum age difference between the child and the prospective adoptive parents should not be less than twenty-five years.
2. The age criteria for prospective adoptive parents shall not be applicable in case of relative adoptions or adoption by step-parents.
3. If on the other hand a couple already has three children, agencies will not consider them for adoption except in the following cases: a) special need children as defined in sub-regulation (21) of regulation 2, b) hard to place children as mentioned in regulation 50, and c) the case of relative adoption and adoption by step-parent.
4. The age of prospective adoptive parents, as on the date of registration determines the eligibility and the eligibility of prospective adoptive parents. For example, If a child is 4 years of age then the maximum composite age of prospective adoptive parents is 90 years. For single parents is 45 years and for older children, it is more. The minimum age difference between the child and either of the prospective adoptive parents should not be less than twenty-one years.
5. In the case of a couple, the composite age of prospective adoptive parents shall be counted. The composite age is the sum of both your age as well as your spouse.

Things to remember for Prospective Adoptive Parents (paps)

1. While adopting, only adopt from Specialized Adoption Agencies (SSA’s) recognized by the State Governments.
2. It is better to not approach any nursing homes, hospitals, maternity homes, unauthorized institutions,s or individuals for adoption.
3. Read the Guidelines carefully on the website and follow the due procedure.
4. Upload only correct documents. If you upload incorrect documents your registration will be canceled.
5. Once you have entered the registration process, follow the steps for completing your registration.
6. There is no need to pay any additional adoption charges other than what is prescribed in CARA Guidelines.
7. Upon registration, you will be asked to upload documents as per instructions.
8. Stay away from touts or middlemen as there is no role of touts or middlemen in adoption. Steer clear of these people as they will mislead you to adopt a child illegally.
9. For adoption-related charges, please refer to Schedule-13 of the Guidelines Governing Adoption of Children (2015). Always make payment by cheque or draft and collect your receipt.
10. Through illegal adoption, you may unintentionally become part of a child trafficking network. Save yourself from legal ramifications.

What are the Documents Required

1. You will be asked to give your current family photograph/ photograph of the couple or person adopting a child.
2. Your pan card/
3. Birth certificate/proof of date of birth of both the spouse.
4. Proof of residence (aadhar card/ voter card/ passport/ current electricity bill/ telephone bill)
5. Proof of income of last year (salary slip/ income certificate issued by government departments/ income tax return)
6. You will need to bring a certificate from a medical practitioner certifying that the prospective adoptive parents do not suffer from any chronic, contagious or fatal disease and that they are fit to adopt. In the case of a married couple, upload the Medical Certificate of both the applicants.
7. You will also need to produce your marriage certificate.
8. Divorce Decree/Declaration from the competent court or affidavit on oath about divorce in case of divorce governed by personal law where the decree of divorce is not mandatory/Death certificate of spouse in case of the single prospective adoptive parent (if applicable).
9. You will also need to produce two reference letters from acquaintances or relatives in support of adoption.
10. You will also need the consent of the older child/children in the adoptive family. (if more than 5 years)

Conclusion

If you wish to adopt a child from a different place, there is also the provision of adopting from a child care center other than the one you have registered. All you need to do is make an application to the Specialized Adoption Agencies (SSA) specifying the place from which you wish to adopt.

Once you have given all the necessary documents and have registered with CARA, then you will have to wait, as your name will be added to the waiting list of the appropriate center.

Hope you found the above information on how to adopt a baby in India helpful. For more details on the adoption process you can visit the CARA website.