Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA)

Category: Indian Polity and Governance — Child Welfare

The Central Adoption Resource Authority is a statutory body responsible for regulating and facilitating adoption in India, particularly the adoption of orphaned, abandoned and surrendered children.

Key facts

  • Administrative ministry: Ministry of Women and Child Development.

  • Legal status: Statutory body.

  • Main legal framework: Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, as amended, and the applicable Adoption Regulations.

  • CARA oversees adoption procedures and promotes transparent, child-centred adoption practices.

  • It acts as the central authority for inter-country adoption under India's implementation of the Hague Convention framework.

Major functions

  • Regulating adoption processes.

  • Facilitating domestic and inter-country adoptions.

  • Coordinating with recognised adoption agencies and state authorities.

  • Protecting children's rights and ensuring that adoption follows legal safeguards.

  • Maintaining and administering the central adoption system.

UPSC key pointers

  • CARA functions under the Ministry of Women and Child Development.

  • It is a statutory authority, not merely a private organisation.

  • The Juvenile Justice Act and Adoption Regulations provide the domestic legal framework.

  • Adoption procedures prioritise the child's welfare and legal protection.