Who can Adopt?
Adoption is becoming popular these days, but still there is a lot of ambiguity about the eligibility to adopt a baby in India. Here’s some information about the eligibility criteria for adopting in India:
Read: Adopting an older child
Who Can Adopt A Baby?
Indians, Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) and Foreign Residents can adopt a child from India. But, there are specific guidelines and documentation processes for each of these groups of adoptive parents. Generally, a married couple or a single woman can adopt a child in India.
Read: Adoption Laws in India
Who Cannot Adopt A Baby?
According to Indian law, a single man is not eligible to become an adoptive parent. Even if he is allowed to adopt as an exception, he can adopt only a male child.
The Eligibility Criteria – For Adoptive Parents
To adopt a Child in India, the adoptive parent should be:
- Medically Fit – proof, in the form of medical certificates, need to be provided at the time of registering for adoption
- Financially Stable – and competent enough to care for the child
- Above 21 years of age – and though there is no upper age limit, most adoption agencies have their own benchmark. Generally, for a child who is less than a year old, the parents should be below 45 years of age.
- But with the adoption of older children or those with special needs, the age of the adoptive parents will be relaxed accordingly. However, in all cases, the age of the adoptive parent cannot exceed 55 years.
Read: Parenting an adopted and biological child together
Laws For Adoption
- Indian citizens who are Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, or Buddhists are allowed to formally adopt under the Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act of 1956.
- Indian nationals who are Muslims, Parsis, Christians or Jews are subject to the Guardian and Wards Act of 1890.
- Foreign citizens and NRIs are supposed to formally adopt their child according to the adoption laws and procedures in the country of their residence. This must be carried out within two years of the individual becoming a child’s guardian.
Tips & Tricks
Dieting during pregnancy can cause abnormalities and a low birth weight in your baby; therefore your ideal weight should be reached before pregnancy.
Taking folic acid in its natural form before pregnancy can prevent serious birth defects. You can find them in fruits and vegetables, fortified cereals, and enriched bread products. If you’re planning to conceive, you should consume at least 400 micrograms of folic acid a day.
If you are on contraceptive pills, it could take a few months before your periods are regular and you begin ovulating again. It usually is best to stop the pills at the end of a cycle to avoid mid-cycle bleeding.
Before buying a home pregnancy test kit, be sure to check the expiry date. For accurate results, take the test after one week after the missed period; testing very early, can give you negative results.
Green tea and orange pekoe (popularly known as 'regular') are considered to be excellent fertility enhancers. Research has shown that women who regularly drink tea, increase their chance of conception.
