State Child Protection Society, West Bengal

Prospective Adoptive Parents (PAP), who intend to adopt a child, shall register online in Child Adoption Resource Information and Guidance System by filling up the application in the prescribed format provided in Adoption Guideline 2015 and uploading the relevant documents. The Child Adoption Resource Information and Guidance System” means an e-governance system for facilitating and monitoring the adoption programme. Prospective Adoptive Parents (PAP) can register on-line through the link www.cara.nic.in and get registered.

1. The Prospective Adoptive Parents (PAP) should be physically, mentally and emotionally stable; financially capable; motivated to adopt a child; and should not have any life threatening medical condition;
2. Any prospective adoptive parent, irrespective of his marital status and whether or not he has his own biological son or daughter, can adopt a child;
3. Single female is eligible to adopt a child of any gender:
4. Single male person shall not be eligible to adopt a girl child;
5. In case of a couple, the consent of both spouses shall be required;
6. No child shall be given in adoption to a couple unless they have at least two years of stable marital relationship;
7. The age of Prospective Adoptive Parents (PAP) as on the date of registration shall be counted for deciding the eligibility

   The eligibility of Prospective Adoptive Parents (PAP) to apply for children of different age groups shall be as under –

   Age of the child	Maximum composite age of prospective adoptive parents	Maximum age of single prospective adoptive parent
   Upto 4 years	90 years	45 years
   Above 4 upto 8 years	100 years	50 years
   Above 8 upto 18 years	110 years	55 years

8. The minimum age difference between the child and either of the Prospective Adoptive Parents (PAP) should not be less than twenty five years;
9. The age for eligibility will be as on the date of registration of the Prospective Adoptive Parents (PAP);
10. couples with more than four children shall not be considered for adoption;

The Child Adoption Resource Information and Guidance System” means an e-governance system for facilitating and monitoring the adoption programme .Every resident Indian Prospective Adoptive Parents (PAP), who intends to adopt a child, shall register on-line through the link www.cara.nic.in and get registered. Registration number and Pass word will be generated for further correspondence by filling up the application form as provided in Schedule-5.

Once registration is completed contact the selected SAA for Home Study Report. The PAP will be eligible once the Home Study Report (HSR) is done by the Social Worker of SAAin the format given in Schedule – 6 of Adoption Guideline 2016 within one month from the date of submission of requisite documents. The home study report will remain valid for two years and shall be the basis for adoption of a child by the Prospective Adoptive Parents (PAP) from anywhere in the country.

The system will enable PAP to view up to 6 for In-Country Adoption and 2 child pictures for Foreign adoption in their generated id in CARINGS portal.

PAP has to block the child within 48 hrs./96 hrs. Once the child is reserved/block they will know the name of the agency where the child is present residing.

The PAP will physically visit the agency & place the documents (same as uploaded in CARINGS while reg.) to the adoption Committee of the respective SAA.

The Adoption Committee (Constitutes in SAA) will verify documents and interact with the PAP & ensure placement of the child in pre-adoption foster care within 10 days by signing the pre adoption foster care undertaking (schedule 7).

(1) Any non-resident Indian, overseas citizen of India and foreign Prospective Adoptive Parents (PAP), living in a country which is a signatory to the Hague Adoption Convention and wishing to adopt an Indian child, can approach the concerned authorized foreign adoption agency or the Central Authority, as the case may be, for preparation of their home study report and for further necessary action.

(2) In case, there is no authorized foreign adoption agency or Central Authority in their country of residence, then the Prospective Adoptive Parents (PAP) shall approach the concerned Government department or Indian diplomatic mission in that country for the purpose.

(3) The authorized foreign adoption agency or Central Authority or the concerned Government department or the Indian diplomatic mission, as the case may be, on completion of the home study report, shall register the application of the Prospective Adoptive Parents (PAP) in Child Adoption Resource Information and Guidance System in the format along with the required documents mentioned in

Schedule – 5.

(4) The seniority of the Prospective Adoptive Parents (PAP) shall be from the date of their registration in the Child Adoption Resource Information and Guidance System.

(5) The home study report and other documents of the Prospective Adoptive Parents (PAP) referred to in this Chapter shall be scrutinized at Central Adoption Resource Authority in order to determine their eligibility or suitability.

(6) Profiles of two children shall be referred to the authorized foreign adoption agency or Central Authority or Government department or Indian diplomatic mission, as the case may be, which may forward such profiles to the Prospective Adoptive Parents (PAP) concerned as per local rules. In case of a foreigner or overseas citizen of India, such profile of children shall be referred to the Prospective Adoptive Parents (PAP).

(7) The Prospective Adoptive Parents (PAP) may reserve one of the referred children within ninety six hours and the profile of the other child shall stand automatically withdrawn.

(8) In case the Prospective Adoptive Parents (PAP) fail to reserve any of the children within ninety six hours, then the profiles of both the children stand automatically withdrawn.

(9) As far as possible, preference of the Prospective Adoptive Parents (PAP) shall be taken into consideration when sending referrals to them.

(10) If the Prospective Adoptive Parents (PAP) opt for one of the children shown, they shall accept the child by signing the child study report and medical examination report of the child within thirty days from the date of referral.

(11) The child study report and medical examination report and photograph in original shall be sent by the specialized adoption agency to the concerned authorized foreign adoption agency or Central authority or the Indian diplomatic mission.

(12) In case the Prospective Adoptive Parents (PAP) fail to accept the referred children within thirty days, then, the profile of the child will stand withdrawn to the Child Adoption Resource Information and Guidance System and the seniority of those Prospective Adoptive Parents (PAP) will shift to the bottom of the list, who shall be given another opportunity to select a child when their turn becomes due. Provided that the registration of such Prospective Adoptive Parents (PAP) shall continue for two years from the date of registration.

(13) If the Prospective Adoptive Parents (PAP) desire to visit the specialized adoption agency to see the child in person, before accepting him for adoption, such visit may be made after their adoption application is approved by Central Adoption Resource Authority, and the Prospective Adoptive Parents (PAP) can also get the medical examination report of the child reviewed by a medical practitioner of their choice.

(14) The authorized foreign adoption agency shall forward the original documents of the Prospective Adoptive Parents (PAP), as specified in Schedule-8, to the concerned specialized adoption agency.

1. PAN Card/Passport
2. Proof of residence (Aadhaar Card/Voter ID Card/Passport/driving license/current electricity bill/telephone bill)
3. Proof of income of last year (e.g. salary slip/income certificate issued by Govt. Department /Income tax return)
4. Copy of marriage certificate and photograph
5. Copy of divorce decree/ death certificate of the spouse (if applicable)
6. Copy of birth certificate of the PAPs
7. Certificate from a medical practitioner certifying that the PAPs do not suffer from any chronic, contagious or fatal decease and they are fit to Adopt
8. In case of single parent, undertaking from a relative to take care of the child in case of mishap

1. Passport.
2. Proof of residence (Adhaar Card/Voter ID Card/Passport/driving license/current electricity bill/telephone bill)
3. Proof of income of last year (e.g. salary slip/income certificate issued by Government Department /Income tax return)
4. Copy of marriage certificate and photograph
5. Copy of divorce decree/ death certificate of the spouse (if applicable)
6. Copy of birth certificate of the PAPs
7. Certificate from a medical practitioner certifying that the PAPs do not suffer from any chronic, contagious or fatal decease and they are fit to adopt
8. Permission of the receiving country as per Article 5 and 17 of the Hague Adoption Convention (Only applicable in cases of Hague ratified country)
9. Copy of the Passport of PAPs and a copy of OCI certificate, if applicable
10. Police clearance certificate
11. In case of OCI/Foreign PAPs living in India, a copy of No Objection Certificate from their Embassy/ High Commission for adoption and assurance for post adoption in case the PAPs relocate from India
12. In case of single parent, undertaking from a relative to take care of the child in case of mishap
13. Undertaking from the Prospective Adoptive Parents (PAP) to allow personal visits by the representative of the authorized foreign adoption agency or Central Authority or concerned Government Department, as the case may be, for follow-up of the progress of the child as required under Para 20 (6) of the Guidelines.

Central Adoption Resource Agency (CARA) is an autonomous body under the Ministry of Women & Child Development, Government of India. It functions as the nodal body for adoption of Indian Children and is mandated to monitor and regulate in-country and inter-country adoptions. CARA is designated as the Central Authority to deal with inter-country adoption in accordance with the provision of the Hague Convention on Inter-Country Adoption, 1993, ratified by Government of India in 2003.

Central Adoption Resource Authority,

Ministry of Women & Child Development,

West Block 8, Wing 2,

2nd Floor, R.K. Puram,

New Delhi-110066 (India)

Telephone Numbers: +91-11-26180194

E-mail : carahdesk.wcd@nic.in

For adoption queries:

Toll-Free No: 1800 11 1311

Available between 9:30AM to 5:30PM in all workings days(Mon-Fri)

FOR FURTHER DETAILS LOG ON TO www.cara.nic.in

State Adoption Resource Agency isa nodal body set up by the State Government within the State to promote and monitor adoption and non-institutional care in co-ordination with Central Adoption Resource Authority.

SARA Contact Details

State Adoption Resource Agency, 9th Floor, 14/2 CIT Scheme,ICMARD Building, Ultadanga, Kolkata-64

Telephone Number: 033-23560351

Available between: 11 AM to 5.30 PM (Mon-Fri)

E-mail: adoption.sarawb@gmail.com

Only adopt from Specialised Adoption Agencies (SAAs) recognized by State Governments.

Read the Adoption Guidelines carefully on the website and follow the due procedure.

Follow the steps for completing your registration.

Please upload documents as per instructions.

For adoption related charges, please refer Schedule-13 of the Guidelines Governing Adoption of Children (2015). Always make payment by cheque or draft and collect your receipt.

In case of query, you may contact Toll Free Helpline No. 1800-11-1311 or carahdesk.wcd@nic.in