| 2(1) | Abandoned Child | A child deserted by biological or adoptive parents, declared abandoned by the Committee after inquiry. A child is considered abandoned when their parents or guardians leave them without care or support. | A child left in a park with no one to care for them is declared abandoned by the Committee. |
| 2(2) | Adoption | The process where a child permanently separates from biological parents to become the lawful child of adoptive parents. Adoption legally transfers all rights and responsibilities to the adoptive parents. | A couple adopts a child from an agency, gaining the same rights as biological parents. |
| 2(3) | Adoption Regulations | Regulations framed by the Central Adoption Resource Authority and notified by the Central Government. These are rules governing adoption processes in India. | Guidelines specifying eligibility criteria for prospective adoptive parents. |
| 2(5) | Aftercare | Support for individuals aged 18-21 leaving institutional care to reintegrate into society. Provides transitional assistance, such as financial aid or skill training. | A girl who aged out of a shelter home receives vocational training support. |
| 2(6) | Authorized Foreign Adoption Agency | A foreign social/child welfare agency authorized by CARA to facilitate adoption by foreign citizens. Ensures that international adoptions follow ethical and legal procedures. | An agency in the U.S. authorized to process Indian child adoptions. |
| 2(7) | Authority | Refers to the Central Adoption Resource Authority constituted under Sec 68. CARA oversees adoption processes in India. | CARA manages inter-country adoption procedures. |
| 2(8) | Begging | Soliciting or receiving alms in public/private places, or exposing wounds/deformities to gain alms. The act of begging includes extortion or emotional manipulation for money. | A person exhibiting injuries on a train to solicit money. |
| 2(9) | Best Interest of the Child | Decisions ensuring the child’s basic rights, identity, and holistic development. Prioritizes the child’s well-being above all else. | Placing a child in foster care to protect them from abuse at home. |
| 2(10) | Board | The Juvenile Justice Board constituted under Sec 4. Handles cases involving children in conflict with the law. | A Board adjudicating a case of a minor accused of theft. |
| 2(11) | Central Authority | A government department under the Hague Convention on Inter-country Adoption. Coordinates with foreign authorities for legal adoptions. | The Central Authority helps process an NRI adoption application. |
| 2(12) | Child | A person below 18 years of age. Defined as a minor under Indian law. | A 16-year-old boy is considered a child under this Act. |
| 2(13) | Child in Conflict with Law | A child under 18 alleged or found to have committed an offence. Focuses on rehabilitation rather than punishment. | A 17-year-old caught shoplifting is dealt with under this provision. |
| 2(14) | Child in Need of Care and Protection | A child without care/support or at risk of harm, as defined under specific criteria. Includes abandoned, abused, or vulnerable children. | A mentally ill child with unfit guardians is protected under this category. |
| 2(15) | Child-friendly | Practices or environments that prioritize a child’s well-being and humane treatment. Ensures child-sensitive approaches in all dealings. | A child-friendly court with informal seating arrangements. |
| 2(16) | Child Legally Free for Adoption | A child declared adoptable after due inquiry by the Committee under Sec 38. Ensures the child’s status for adoption is legally established. | An abandoned baby declared legally free for adoption after investigation. |
| 2(17) | Child Welfare Officer | An officer attached to a Children’s Home for implementing Committee/Board directions. Provides support to children in institutional care. | A welfare officer ensures educational access for children in a shelter home. |
| 2(18) | Child Welfare Police Officer | A police officer designated under Sec 107 to handle cases involving children. Trained to interact sensitively with minors. | A CWPO assists in investigating a child trafficking case. |
| 2(19) | Children’s Home | A State or NGO-run facility for care and rehabilitation of children in need of care/protection. Provides safe shelter for vulnerable children. | A government-run home for abandoned children. |
| 2(20) | Children’s Court | A court designated under specific Acts to handle child-related cases. Ensures speedy and child-sensitive adjudication. | A court hearing a child abuse case. |
| 2(21) | Child Care Institution | Includes Children’s Homes, observation homes, special homes, or any institution providing care and protection to children in need. Encompasses facilities for children requiring support. | An NGO-run shelter for street children. |
| 2(22) | Committee | The Child Welfare Committee constituted under Sec 27. Focuses on rehabilitation and welfare of children in need of care/protection. | A committee deciding on custody of an abandoned child. |
| 2(23) | Court | Civil courts handling adoption and guardianship matters, including District, Family, and City Civil Courts. Courts authorized to process legal guardianship/adoption. | A Family Court approving an adoption application. |
| 2(24) | Corporal Punishment | Physical punishment inflicted on a child for disciplining or reforming them. Prohibited under the Act due to its harmful effects. | A teacher hitting a student is considered corporal punishment. |
| 2(25) | Childline Services | A 24-hour emergency outreach service linking children in crisis to care and rehabilitation. Provides immediate help for children in distress. | A child rescued through a call to 1098 helpline. |
| 2(26) | District Child Protection Unit | A district-level unit established for implementing child protection measures. Coordinates all child welfare initiatives in a district. | A unit arranging foster care for orphans. |
| 2(26-A) | District Management | Includes additional district magistrates managing district-level child welfare efforts. Enhances administrative oversight in child protection matters. | An ADM supervising a children’s shelter audit. |
| 2(27) | Fit Facility | A government or NGO-run facility temporarily taking responsibility for a child, recognized by the Committee or Board. Offers short-term care for specific needs. | A hospital identified as a fit facility for a sick child. |
| 2(28) | Fit Person | An individual recognized by the Committee/Board as capable of taking responsibility for a child. Ensures the child’s well-being under temporary care. | A relative appointed to care for a child after parental loss. |
| 2(29) | Foster Care | Placement of a child in a qualified family other than their biological family. Provides temporary care in a family setting. | A foster family caring for an abandoned infant until adoption. |
| 2(30) | Foster Family | A family approved by the District Child Protection Unit to provide foster care. Acts as a substitute family for children in need. | A couple fostering a 12-year-old boy. |
| 2(31) | Guardian | A natural or appointed caretaker of a child, recognized by the Committee or Board. Responsible for the child’s well-being. | An elder sibling acting as a guardian for orphaned minors. |
| 2(32) | Group Foster Care | A family-like care facility for children without parental care, promoting a sense of belonging. Creates a community-based environment. | A group foster home for children affected by natural disasters. |
| 2(33) | Heinous Offences | Offences under IPC or other laws with minimum punishment of seven years or more. Applies to severe crimes committed by children. | A 17-year-old charged with homicide. |
| 2(34) | Inter-country Adoption | Adoption of an Indian child by a non-resident Indian, person of Indian origin, or foreigner. Ensures legal and ethical procedures for international adoptions. | An American couple adopting a child from India. |
| 2(35) | Juvenile | A person below 18 years of age. Defined as a minor under this Act. | A 15-year-old charged with a petty theft. |
| 2(36) | Narcotic Drug and Psychotropic Substance | Defined under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985. Includes substances harmful to health and subject to strict regulations. | Seizure of illegal cannabis from a juvenile. |
| 2(37) | No Objection Certificate for Inter-country Adoption | Certificate issued by CARA for foreign adoption processes. Confirms the legality of inter-country adoption. | CARA issuing a certificate for a Canadian couple adopting from India. |
| 2(38) | Non-resident Indian | A person holding an Indian passport but residing abroad for more than one year. Eligible for adoption under Indian law. | An NRI in the U.S. adopting a child from an Indian shelter. |
| 2(39) | Notification | A formal announcement published in the Official Gazette. Public communication about laws, regulations, or guidelines. | A notification about child adoption procedures published in the Gazette. |
| 2(40) | Observation Home | A facility for children awaiting legal proceedings or under care orders, run by the State Government or NGOs. Provides a temporary, protective environment for children in conflict with the law. | A child placed in an observation home while awaiting trial for a theft charge. |
| 2(41) | Open Shelter | A facility for children in need of care and protection, providing short-term shelter. Offers flexible care and shelter for children who are not institutionalized. | A shelter offering housing and meals for children found on the streets. |
| 2(42) | Orphan | A child without biological or adoptive parents or legal guardians. A child who has lost both parents and has no guardian willing or able to care for them. | A child whose parents die in an accident and no relatives are willing to take responsibility. |
| 2(43) | Overseas Citizen of India | A person who is registered under the Citizenship Act, 1955 as an Overseas Citizen of India. People of Indian descent who hold specific citizenship status abroad. | An individual of Indian descent, holding an OCI card, living in the UK. |
| 2(44) | Person of Indian Origin | A person with Indian ancestry who holds a Person of Indian Origin card. This status applies to foreign nationals with Indian heritage. | A person of Indian descent living in Canada, holding a PIO card. |
| 2(45) | Petty Offences | Offences for which the maximum punishment is imprisonment up to three years. Minor crimes carrying lighter punishments. | A 16-year-old caught shoplifting and sentenced to probation. |
| 2(46) | Place of Safety | A facility where children in conflict with the law are placed for care and rehabilitation. Safe spaces for children who may have been found guilty or awaiting trial. | A child sent to a place of safety while awaiting a court verdict. |
| 2(47) | Prescribed | Rules or procedures established under the Act. Official guidelines or protocols that must be followed. | The prescribed age limits for adoption. |
| 2(48) | Probation Officer | An officer appointed to monitor children on probation or handle juvenile cases. Ensures rehabilitation of juveniles through regular monitoring. | A probation officer visiting a juvenile in foster care. |
| 2(49) | Prospective Adoptive Parents | Individuals eligible to adopt as per the adoption laws. People approved to adopt a child under the legal framework. | A couple going through the adoption process to adopt a child from a shelter. |
| 2(50) | Public Place | A location that is publicly accessible, as defined in the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956. Areas accessible to the general public. | A public park or street is considered a public place. |
| 2(51) | Registered | Refers to child care institutions or agencies that are formally recognized by the authorities. Institutions or organizations that have undergone official registration for child welfare purposes. | A registered children’s home operating under government oversight. |
| 2(52) | Relative | A paternal or maternal relative such as an uncle, aunt, or grandparent, in relation to a child. Family members recognized for adoption purposes. | An uncle becoming the legal guardian of a child after the death of both parents. |
| 2(53) | State Agency | The State Adoption Resource Agency (SARA), responsible for adoption-related tasks. A state-run agency managing and overseeing adoption procedures. | SARA facilitating the adoption of a child by a local couple. |
| 2(54) | Serious Offences | Offences where the punishment is between 3 to 7 years of imprisonment. More severe crimes with moderate penalties. | A child involved in a robbery charge carrying a 5-year sentence. |
| 2(55) | Special Juvenile Police Unit | A police unit designated to handle juvenile-related matters. A police team trained to deal specifically with juveniles. | A juvenile police unit responding to a case of a missing child. |
| 2(56) | Special Home | An institution for housing and rehabilitating children found to be in conflict with the law. A correctional facility aimed at rehabilitation, not punishment. | A juvenile sentenced to a special home for theft. |
| 2(57) | Specialised Adoption Agency | An institution recognized for managing the adoption process, specifically for orphaned, abandoned, or surrendered children. Agencies responsible for organizing and facilitating adoptions. | A recognized adoption agency facilitating a local or international adoption. |
| 2(58) | Sponsorship | Financial or supplementary support for families caring for children, especially for medical, educational, or developmental needs. Assistance provided to ensure proper care for children. | A sponsorship program helping a family cover the educational costs of a foster child. |
| 2(59) | State Government | The government authority in charge of child welfare programs within a Union Territory. Refers to the governing body responsible for implementing laws in the Union Territories. | The Delhi State Government implementing adoption regulations. |
| 2(60) | Surrendered Child | A child voluntarily given up by their parent or guardian due to physical, emotional, or social reasons. A child handed over by the guardian because they cannot care for them. | A parent surrendering their new-born to a recognized adoption agency due to financial difficulties. |
