The Central Government notifies the Adoption (Amendment) Regulations, 2021 to amend the Adoption Regulations, 2017 in order to make inter-country adoptions easier.
Key Amendments:
- A new chapter is inserted on Procedure for Children Adopted under the Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act, 1956, by Parents who desire to relocate child abroad. The Chapter is applicable to:
(i) all adoption cases under the Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act, 1956 by prospective adoptive parents or adoptive parents residing outside the country.
(ii) all adoption cases pertaining to countries outside the Hague Adoption Convention.
- Any Hindu prospective adoptive parent habitually residing abroad and willing to adopt an Indian Hindu child born to Indian Hindu Parents, residing in India, may approach an Authorised Foreign Adoption Agency or the Central Authority or concerned Government department (in case of countries outside the Hague Adoption Convention) in their country of habitual residence, as the case may be.
- The parties to an adoption concluded under the Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act, 1956 are required to jointly present the deed of adoption to the District Registrar with copy to District Magistrate.
- Introduced SCHEDULE XXXIII relating to Verification Certificate in case of Adoption Concluded under the Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act, 1956.