How do I legally adopt a child in India? What is the CARA procedure?

Two parallel frameworks:

(1) Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act, 1956 (HAMA) — applicable to Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists and Jains. Adoption under HAMA creates a complete legal substitution — the adopted child becomes the legitimate child of the adoptive parents for ALL purposes (succession, inheritance, citizenship);
(2) Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 (JJ Act) — secular framework available to all communities, including Muslims, Christians, Parsis (who do not have full adoption laws under their own personal law). Adoption under the JJ Act creates the same legal effect — the child becomes the lawful child for all purposes.

Most adoptions today happen under the JJ Act and through CARA, because:
(a) It is faster and more transparent;
(b) Available to all communities;
(c) Provides legal certainty across India.

HAMA adoptions still happen for in-family adoptions (relative adopting a niece/nephew). Both routes culminate in a court order — by the District Court for HAMA, by the District Magistrate (under JJ Act amendments) or Court for CARA adoptions.

Eligibility under CARA Adoption Regulations, 2022:

(1) Single PAPs — single females, divorcees and widows can adopt any child. Single males can adopt only male children;
(2) Married couples — must have at least 2 years of stable marriage. Both spouses must give consent;
(3) Age criteria:
- For child up to 4 years: combined age of couple max 90 years (single PAP max 45);
- For child 4-8 years: combined max 100 years (single max 50);
- For child 8-18 years: combined max 110 years (single max 55);
(4) Age gap — minimum 25 years between any adoptive parent and child;
(5) Physical, mental, emotional and financial fitness — verified through Home Study;
(6) Number of existing children — couples with three or more biological children are generally not considered for non-special-needs adoption (special needs and older child adoptions have relaxed rules);
(7) No serious criminal record or court conviction.

OCIs and NRIs can adopt, with additional safeguards. Foreign nationals adopt through inter-country adoption procedures, which include longer waiting times and Hague Convention compliance.

Step 1 — Register on cara.wcd.gov.in (the CARINGS portal). Upload documents: ID proof, marriage certificate, income proof, medical certificates, photographs, references.

Step 2 — Select an empanelled Specialised Adoption Agency (SAA) from the portal list (typically in your district). The SAA is your primary point of contact.

Step 3 — Home Study Report (HSR) — an SAA social worker visits your home, interviews you, observes living conditions, assesses parenting capacity. Typically 2-3 visits. The HSR is uploaded to CARINGS and is valid for 3 years.

Step 4 — Pre-adoption counselling — mandatory sessions covering attachment, identity, disclosure, and post-adoption challenges.

Step 5 — Placement in the seniority queue — based on date of HSR upload. Waiting times vary by child age preference; younger children have longer queues (3-4+ years), older children and special needs shorter (months).

You can update preferences (age, gender, state, special needs) at any time. Engaging an SAA closer to your home minimises logistical friction.

Step 6 — Child referrals. Periodically, you'll receive referrals via CARINGS — typically 6 profiles at a time. Each profile has the child's photograph, medical report, social background and emotional history.

Step 7 — Reservation and meeting. Reserve a profile within 48 hours. You will then meet the child at the Specialised Adoption Agency caring for them. You have 20 days to decide; the child may also be allowed exploratory visits with you.

Step 8 — Acceptance. If you decide to proceed, sign acceptance and the legal process begins.

Step 9 — Pre-adoption foster care. The child moves to your home in pre-adoption foster care while the legal process completes. You become the de facto caregiver.

Step 10 — Court order. The SAA files the adoption petition before the District Magistrate (under recent JJ Act amendments) or District Court. After verifying documents and (if needed) a court interview, the order makes you the legal parents.

Step 11 — Birth certificate amendment — your names as parents; the child's name as you have given.

Step 12 — Post-adoption follow-up. The SAA continues to visit for 2 years, with quarterly reports.

Typical timeline: 2-5 years for healthy infant adoption; faster for older children and special-needs adoption.

Once a court adoption order is granted:

(1) Complete legal parent-child relationship — the child is treated as if born to the adoptive parents for ALL legal purposes;
(2) Inheritance rights — full inheritance rights from adoptive parents under personal laws and the Indian Succession Act. The adopted child cannot, in most cases, inherit from biological parents thereafter;
(3) Citizenship — Indian by birth for in-country adoptions; for inter-country adoptions, citizenship of the adoptive country follows their domestic process (Hague Convention countries have streamlined procedures);
(4) Identity continuity — the child gets new birth certificate, school records, passport in the adoptive family's name;
(5) Right to know origins — Children adopted under the JJ Act have the right to access their biological background once they turn 18 — this is supported by CARA's Root Search procedure;
(6) Same legal protections — inheritance, maintenance, guardianship rules apply identically as for biological children.

The adoption order is registered with the Sub-Registrar of Births and Deaths. Engage a reputable, specialised family lawyer for the court phase. See our related guides on child maintenance and making a will.