In Indian society, adoption is primarily seen as a way to continue the family lineage and ensure the survival of the family name.

Intra-family adoption, where a child is adopted by a relative, is the most common form of adoption in India.

According to the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, the legal age for adoption in India is 18 years.

The Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) is the nodal agency responsible for regulating adoption in India.

Fosterage in India is a temporary arrangement where a child is placed in the care of a foster family, usually for a period of up to three years.

Married couples, single parents, and childless couples with a stable income are all eligible to become foster parents in India.

Fosterage provides children with a loving and supportive family environment, helps them develop social and emotional skills, and prepares them for permanent placement.

Foster parents in India face challenges such as financial difficulties, social stigma associated with fosterage, and lack of support from extended family and community.

The government plays a crucial role in promoting adoption and fosterage in India by providing financial assistance, raising awareness, and simplifying the adoption and fosterage process.

Cultural and religious beliefs such as the belief that a childless couple is incomplete, the desire to have a male child, and the belief that adoption is a way to accumulate punya (merit) influence adoption and fosterage in India.

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a decrease in the number of adoptions and foster placements, made it more difficult for prospective adoptive and foster parents to complete the adoption and fosterage process, and increased the number of children in need of adoption and fosterage.

Adopted and foster children in India may face challenges such as identity issues, difficulty in forming attachments, and academic and social difficulties.

To support adopted and foster children in India, it is important to provide them with a loving and supportive family environment, encourage them to talk about their feelings, and help them to connect with their birth family (if possible).

Recent trends in adoption and fosterage in India include an increase in the number of inter-country adoptions, an increase in the number of single-parent adoptions, and an increase in the number of foster care placements.