The Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA), under the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India, has issued comprehensive directives to all State Adoption Resource Agencies (SARAs) to institutionalize structured counselling services at all stages of the adoption process — pre-adoption, during adoption, and post-adoption. Issued under Section 70(1)(a) of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 (as amended in 2021), these directions align with the Adoption Regulations, 2022 and aim to build a child-sensitive, emotionally supportive adoption ecosystem across the country.
The memorandum dated July 7, 2025, emphasizes that counselling is a mandatory and integral component of the adoption process. CARA underscored the importance of psychosocial support for all stakeholders, prospective adoptive parents (PAPs), adopted children, and biological parents surrendering children — to ensure emotional preparedness, smoother transitions, and long-term family integration.
Key directives include:
Designation/Empanelment of Counsellors: SARAs must appoint qualified counsellors at state and district levels with expertise in child psychology, mental health, or social work.
Pre-Adoption Counselling: Must be provided to PAPs during the Home Study Report stage, in accordance with Regulation 10(7).
Counselling for Older Children: Children of older age groups must receive counselling prior to and during the adoption process under Regulation 30(4)(c).
Post-Adoption Counselling: Required in cases such as root search initiatives, adjustment issues, or risks of disruption or dissolution. Relevant provisions include Regulations 14(4), 14(6)(b), 21(6), and 30(4)(e).
Biological Parent Counselling: Parents surrendering their children must be counselled on the finality of their decision after 60 days and informed about the child’s right to a future root search, per Regulations 7(11) and 30(2)(c).
All counselling sessions and psychosocial interventions must be properly documented by the Specialised Adoption Agencies (SAAs) and District Child Protection Units (DCPUs) to ensure continuity of care and compliance.
CARA has directed SARAs to implement these guidelines uniformly across all child care institutions, adoption agencies, and related departments. The Authority has stressed that counselling should not be treated as a procedural formality but as a vital safeguard ensuring the best interests of the child and contributing to sustainable, successful adoptions.