In recent times, adoption has been increasing at a much higher rate in India. The entire theme surrounding adoption in India is not well understood and that has led to a lot of incorrect information being circulated in the public. 

This blog will look at how as an NRI, you can adopt a child in India.

The “Central Adoption Resource Authority” (CARA), a central organization for adoptions in India and a legal authority of the Ministry for Women & Child Development of the Government of India, regulates the adoption process in India.

Indian children and subject to foreign adoption if only they’ve been rejected for domestic adoption thrice. 

According to the HAMA(Hindu Adoption and Maintenance) act of 1956, if you are a Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, or Jain, you may adopt a child of either gender or two children of different genders.

But the Non-Hindu NRI’s can only become the legal guardians of the child and not adoptive parents. The legal guardianship ends when the child turns 21. 

The government plans to issue new laws to make it simpler for NRIs and OCI cardholders who adopt under the Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act 1956 (HAMA) to obtain a “no-objection” certificate allowing them to bring the kid back to their home country. 

To understand more about the new changes do read the article,

• Government to make it easier for NRIs adopting in India to take the child back to the country of residence.

If you satisfy the eligibility criteria of CARA, you should then contact the authorized adoption agency in your country, if there are no foreign adoption agencies in your country you may also contact the Indian diplomatic Mission. 

You contact the foreign adoption agency you’ve linked with to arrange the necessary paperwork for the first adoption procedure, and then you apply to the Consular Wing of the Indian Embassy.

When all of the legal procedures are satisfied and an application is filed with the Indian Court of Law, the court determines where the kid resides and issues the adoption deed to you.

All that’s left is to get Guardianship Rights under the HMGA and then arrange for the child’s immigration to their new home. 

Conclusion:

While adoption is widely regarded as a great move, it is not one to be done lightly. In India, like in many other countries throughout the world, adoption is controlled by laws and regulations.