70% of foreigners adopt special children from Karnataka, but only 2% Indians adopt
What You Need to Know
In Karnataka, nearly 70% of foreign adopters choose children with special needs, while less than 2% of Indian parents do. This disparity stems from greater foreign awareness, social acceptance, and shorter waiting periods versus Indian societal stigma and preference for healthy children. Officials are launching awareness drives to encourage more domestic adoption of special needs children.
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In a revealing trend highlighting contrasting attitudes toward adoption, data from the Directorate of Child Protection shows that nearly 70% of foreign adopters from Karnataka in the past six years have chosen children with special needs, while less than 2% of Indian adoptive parents have done the same.
Between 2020–21 and 2025, Karnataka recorded 155 inter-country adoptions, out of which 108 involved special children. Most of these adoptions were by parents from the United States, Canada, Italy, and France. The special needs ranged from speech and hearing impairments to cleft lip, limb deformities, and minor cardiac conditions.
In contrast, of the 1,385 domestic adoptions during the same period, only 21 were of special children, underscoring a significant gap in acceptance among Indian families.
Foreign parents more open to adopting special children
Officials attribute this difference to the greater awareness and social acceptance of adoption among Western families. “Foreigners are more open to adopting children with medical or developmental conditions. They have strong community support systems, better access to healthcare, and a compassionate mindset towards inclusive parenting,” said Haleema, Project Director, Directorate of Child Protection.
She added that Karnataka currently has 55 special children and 29 others ready for adoption, while over 2,500 Indian parents are registered on the adoption portal. “We are launching awareness drives to encourage domestic families to come forward. For example, if a couple already has biological children, they can still adopt a special child. We want to promote inclusivity and compassion in adoption,” she said.
Shorter waiting period for foreign adopters
Meenakshi S. Kabedi, District Child Protection Officer for Bengaluru East, said that many foreign applicants opt for special children because the waiting period is significantly shorter. “The adoption process for healthy infants can take up to four to five years. In contrast, children with special needs are available for adoption much sooner,” she noted.
Officials also pointed out that the delay in domestic adoptions is partly due to societal stigma, lack of awareness, and preference for young female children among Indian adoptive families.
Karnataka ranks fourth in adoption numbers
Karnataka ranks fourth in the country in facilitating adoptions, behind Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal. However, with ongoing reforms and streamlined procedures, the state is expected to climb to second place by the end of the financial year.
The state has 45 recognised adoption agencies, including 21 government-run and 24 privately-run centres. Six of these are located in Bengaluru Urban district, including:
- Shishugruha Amulya (two units) – Government-run
- Shishu Mandir
- Canara Bank Relief and Welfare Society
- St Michael Home
- Amrutha Shishunivas
Together, these agencies have facilitated 283 adoptions since 2020, with Bengaluru East division accounting for 142 cases, the highest in the state.
Legal reforms and awareness initiatives
Officials credit the rise in adoptions to recent procedural reforms. Previously, courts issued final adoption orders, but since 2023, this authority has been delegated to deputy commissioners, significantly reducing the waiting period.
The District Child Protection Unit (Bengaluru East) has also launched a month-long adoption awareness campaign, focusing on:
- Encouraging adoption of special children
- Promoting legal and ethical adoption processes
- Highlighting penalties for illegal adoption or child trafficking
The awareness drive stresses that illegal procurement or sale of children attracts rigorous imprisonment of up to five years and a fine of ₹1 lakh. If committed by someone responsible for the child’s care, such as a hospital employee, the punishment increases to three to seven years of imprisonment and a fine of ₹1 lakh.
‘Adoption should be seen as love, not charity’
Experts and activists emphasise the need for cultural change in India’s perception of adoption. “Adoption should not be seen as an act of charity but of love. Every child deserves a family, irrespective of physical or medical conditions,” said a senior official from the Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA).
With the Directorate’s renewed focus and upcoming awareness campaigns, officials hope to see more Indian families open their hearts to special children, bridging the current adoption gap and giving every child a fair chance at a loving home.