India Sees 4,963 Children Adopted by Foreigners Across 41 Countries in Last Decade

SRINAGAR: India has seen a steady outflow of children being adopted internationally, with a total of 4,963 children adopted by foreign families over the past decade. These adoptions span across 41 countries, with the United States leading the list with 2,031 adoptions, followed by Italy with 1,029 and the United Kingdom with 73. Other countries with notable adoption numbers include Malta (215), France (144), and Belgium (42).

The latest data, released by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, highlights the increasing global interest in Indian children for adoption. Countries like Australia, Canada, and Spain have also seen a significant number of adoptions, with 7, 193, and 517 respectively. Smaller numbers of children have been adopted by families from countries such as Bahrain, Brazil, and Nigeria, among others.

The government has ensured that child welfare remains a priority by strengthening child protection laws, including the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, and the Adoption Regulations, 2022. These regulations mandate that Specialised Adoption Agencies (SAAs) be inspected annually by state governments to maintain high standards of child protection.

As per government reports, no complaints of improper upbringing or exploitation of adopted children have been received, further assuring that the adoption process remains secure and in line with international child protection standards.