Neeraj's simple note to his mother, "I love you Mom because you take me out to play," encapsulates the transformative power of adoption. His journey began at birth when he was left at a Child Care Institution due to a condition called "knock knees." Despite families hesitating for years, a couple saw beyond his medical condition in 2021 and embraced him as their child. Since then, Neeraj has thrived, participating in swimming, school plays, and parkour.

Neeraj's story is reflective of a broader trend in India, where adoption numbers have increased over the past decade. Adoptions rose from 3,677 in 2015-16 to 4,027 in 2018-19 and reached a record high of 4,515 in FY 2024-25. As of the current financial year, 420 children have been adopted, with the majority (342) being adopted by Resident Indian parents. Non-Resident Indians adopted eight, Overseas Citizens of India adopted six, and foreigners adopted 11.

Despite this progress, the demand for adoption significantly exceeds the number of available children. As of April 2025, 35,701 prospective adoptive parents are registered on CARA's CARINGS portal, while only 2,435 children are available for adoption nationwide. Of these, 897 are categorized as "normal," and 1,538 have special needs.

Beyond the statistics, personal stories highlight the impact of adoption. Sukama, orphaned at a young age, found foster parents who legally adopted her just weeks before her 18th birthday. In Mizoram, a 15-year-old girl was swiftly adopted by her stepfather, with the entire process taking only 16 days.

Currently, 35 State Adoption Resource Agencies and 719 Specialised Adoption Agencies coordinate adoption efforts. Legal and medical assessments are facilitated by 757 District Magistrates and 714 Chief Medical Officers, with 760 District Child Protection Units providing monitoring and support. On the international front, India's adoption framework includes 44 Central Authorities, 21 Indian Diplomatic Missions, and 65 Authorised Foreign Adoption Agencies, ensuring legal and ethical adoptions in accordance with the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015, and Adoption Regulations, 2022.

One of the primary challenges in adoption has been the gap between children needing families and parents willing to adopt, but this gap began to close in 2023-24. Over 8,500 children were added to the adoption pool, and 245 new agencies joined CARA's network, expanding adoption opportunities.

The shift in attitudes towards adoption is a significant aspect of this transformation. Adoption is becoming a more common and accepted path for families.