Child Protection Mechanisms and Challenges in India
Social Justice & Development
- PYQs8
- Articles1
Background
This topic is crucial for GS2 (Governance, Social Justice, Welfare Schemes) as it examines the effectiveness of legal frameworks, institutional performance, and policy implementation in protecting vulnerable sections of society, specifically children. It also highlights systemic issues within the criminal justice system.
Child protection in India is governed by a framework of laws, policies, and institutions aimed at safeguarding children from abuse, exploitation, and neglect. Key legislation like the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, provides a legal framework for addressing child sexual abuse, while various government bodies and welfare schemes are tasked with its implementation and support for victims.
Facts & tables
- Under-reporting
- Child sexual abuse remains persistently under-reported in India.
- Perpetrator Profile
- Over 90% of child sexual abuse cases involve perpetrators from within the family's trusted circles.
- Judicial Inefficiency
- POCSO courts face an 89% pendency rate, with historical conviction rates ranging between 3% and 30%.
- Penalty Effectiveness
- Harsher penalties, without systemic reforms, can suppress reporting and do not necessarily act as effective deterrents.
| Type | Reference |
|---|---|
| Conceptual area | Governance |
| Conceptual area | Indian Polity |
| Conceptual area | Social Justice & Development |
| Body | Role |
|---|---|
| Police | Investigation and law enforcement |
| Judiciary (Special Courts) | Adjudication and justice delivery |
| Ministry of Women and Child Development | Policy formulation and oversight |
| National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) | Data collection and analysis |
Prelims angle
Prelims angle: Multi-statement analysis
Prelims angle: Factual recall
- POCSO Act: Legal framework for child sexual abuse.
- Challenges: Under-reporting, high judicial pendency, low conviction rates.
- Perpetrators often from trusted circles (over 90%).
- Harsher penalties alone are ineffective; systemic reforms needed.
- Importance of trauma-informed policing and urban planning for child safety.
| Year | Framing tags |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall |
| 2023 | Multi-statement analysis, Policy measures |
| 2022 | Multi-statement analysis, Institutional roles and functions |
| 2020 | Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis |
| 2019 | Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall |
| 2018 | Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall |
| 2017 | Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis |
| 2017 | Multi-statement analysis, Policy measures |
Timeline
-
Governance
Conceptual area
-
Indian Polity
Conceptual area
-
Social Justice & Development
Conceptual area
-
Prelims 2017
Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis
-
Prelims 2017
Multi-statement analysis, Policy measures
-
Prelims 2018
Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall
-
Prelims 2019
Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall
-
Prelims 2020
Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis
-
Prelims 2022
Multi-statement analysis, Institutional roles and functions
-
Prelims 2023
Multi-statement analysis, Policy measures
-
Prelims 2026
Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall
-
Series of gaps: on underreporting of child sexual abuse
India's child protection system, particularly concerning child sexual abuse under the POCSO Act, is plagued by under-reporting, high judicial pendency, low conviction rates, and a lack of trauma-informed responses, necessitating comprehensive systemic reforms beyond merely increasing penalties.
See also
No related topics linked yet.
Past papers
2017–2026 · 8 questions
In the news
Series of gaps: on underreporting of child sexual abuse
India's child protection system, particularly concerning child sexual abuse under the POCSO Act, is plagued by under-reporting, high judicial pendency, low conviction rates, and a lack of trauma-informed responses, necessitating comprehensive systemic reforms beyond merely increasing penalties.
Try these PYQs
Which of the following statements with regard to the persons with disabilities in India is/are correct ?
1. The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, an Act passed by the Parliament of India in 2018, mandates reservation in education and employment, places a legal duty on Governments to ensure accessibility and non-discrimination.
2. The Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan focuses on achieving universal accessibility for Persons with Disabilities across three key domains — built infrastructure, transport systems and information and communication technology.
3. The National Divyangjan Finance and Development Corporation (NDFDC) is a public sector organisation set up by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs as a not-for-profit company to promote entrepreneurship among Persons with Disabilities (PwDs).
Select the answer using the code given below :
Statement 1 is Incorrect: The Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act was passed by the Parliament of India in 2016, not 2018. It aligns with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and places a legal obligation on governments to ensure non-discrimination and accessibility. It also mandates reservations for PwDs, such as increasing the quota to 4% in government employment and 5% in higher education. Statement 2 is Correct: The Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan (Accessible India Campaign) was launched in 2015 by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD). It focuses on achieving universal accessibility for Persons with Disabilities across three key domains: built infrastructure (barrier-free public buildings), transport systems (accessible railways, airports, and roads), and information and communication technology (accessible government websites and digital ecosystems). Statement 3 is Incorrect: The National Divyangjan Finance and Development Corporation (NDFDC) is a Central Public Sector Undertaking registered as a not-for-profit company to provide concessional financial assistance to promote entrepreneurship, self-employment, and higher education among PwDs. However, it was set up under the aegis of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, not the Ministry of Corporate Affairs. Therefore, the correct option is B.
Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding the Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017?
1. Pregnant women are entitled for three months pre-delivery and three months post-delivery paid leave.
2. Enterprises with crèches must allow the mother minimum six crèche visits daily.
3. Women with two children get reduced entitlements.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
The Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act 2017 has made several significant changes to benefit women employees - Paid maternity leave has been increased to 26 weeks from 12 weeks. - For women expecting after having 2 children, the leave duration remains at 12 weeks. - Establishments employing 50 or more employees must provide a crche facility, and women employees should be allowed to visit the facility 4 times during the day.
With reference to the provisions made under the National Food Security Act, 2013 consider the following statements:
1. The families coming under the category of 'below poverty line (BPL)' only are eligible to receive subsidised grains.
2. The eldest woman in a household, of age 18 years or above, shall be the head of the household for the purpose of issuance of a ration card.
3. Pregnant women and lactating mothers are entitled to a take-home ration' of 1600 calories per day during pregnancy and for six months thereafter.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Statement 1 is incorrect: In 2013, NFSA was enacted to provide food security to 67% of the population in the form of highly subsidized food grains at Rs. 2 and 3 per Kg for wheat and rice respectively. Beneficiaries are identified using Socio-economic Caste Census (SECC) methodology so even non-BPL will also benefit. Statement 2 is correct: Under the NFSA, to issue ration cards the eldest woman of a household aged 18 years or above would be considered as head. Hence, this statement is correct. Statement 3 is incorrect: Pregnant women and lactating mothers are entitled to a nutritious take home ration of 600 Calories and a maternity benefit of at least Rs 6,000 for six months, says the official act.
Consider the following statements:
1. The Factories Act, 1881 was passed with a view to fix the wages of industrial workers and to allow the workers to form trade unions.
2. N.M. Lokhande was a pioneer in organizing the labour movement in British India.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
Statement 1 is incorrect. The Factories Act of 1881 did not address worker wages or the formation of trade unions. Its primary focus was on improving working conditions, especially for children. It limited working hours for children, prohibited child labour under a certain age, and mandated breaks during the workday. Statement 2 is correct. N.M. Lokhande is indeed considered a pioneer of the labour movement in British India. He actively campaigned for better working conditions and worker rights.
In India, Legal Services Authorities provide free legal services to which of the following type of citizens?
1. Person with an annual income of less than Rs 1,00,000
2. Transgender with an annual income of less than Rs 2,00,000
3. Member of Other Backward Classes (OBC) with an annual income of less than Rs 3,00,000
4. All Senior Citizens
Statement 1 is correct. The persons eligible for getting free legal services include - Women and children - Members of SC/ST - Industrial workmen - Victims of mass disaster, violence, flood, drought, earthquake, industrial disaster - Disabled persons - Persons in custody - Persons whose annual income does not exceed 1 lakh - Victims of trafficking in human beings or begar . Statement 2 is correct. There is provision for free legal aid to transgenders up to 2 lakhs in Delhi. (But it is yet to be implemented at an all India level) Statement 3 is not correct. There is free aid to members of SC and ST community but not for OBCs. Statement 4 is not correct. Senior citizens eligibility for free legal aid depends on the Rules framed by the respective State Governments in this regard. In Delhi, for example, senior citizens are eligible for free legal aid subject to a prescribed ceiling of annual income. Therefore, all senior citizens are not eligible for free aid. Hence, A seems to be the most appropriate option among the given list.
Show 3 more PYQs
Consider the following statements in relation to Janani Suraksha Yojana:
1. It is safe motherhood intervention of the State Health Departments.
2. Its objective is to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality among poor pregnant women.
3. It aims to promote institutional delivery among poor pregnant women.
4. Its objective includes providing public health facilities to sick infants up to one year of age.
How many of the statements given above are correct?
Statement 1 is incorrect: Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) is a 100% Centrally Sponsored Scheme under the National Health Mission (NHM). It is a central intervention implemented by states, not an intervention of the State Health Departments. Statement 2 is correct: The primary objective is to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality by encouraging safe, institutional births. Statement 3 is correct: The scheme provides a cash incentive to mothers to promote institutional delivery, particularly among those from BPL, SC, and ST households. Statement 4 is incorrect: While care for sick infants is a priority under the National Health Mission, the provision of free facilities for sick infants up to one year of age is specifically a feature of the Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK) launched in 2011. JSY, launched in 2005, is primarily a conditional cash transfer scheme for delivery.
Which of the following are the objectives of ‘National Nutrition Mission’?
1. To create awareness relating to malnutrition among pregnant women and lactating mothers.
2. To reduce the incidence of anaemia among young children, adolescent girls and women.
3. To promote the consumption of millets, coarse cereals and unpolished rice.
4. To promote the consumption of poultry eggs.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
The National Nutrition Mission, also known as Poshan Abhiyaan, has several objectives. - The first objective is to create awareness relating to malnutrition among pregnant women and lactating mothers. - The second objective is to reduce the incidence of anaemia among young children, adolescent girls and women. These two objectives are clearly stated in the mission's goals. Hence, statements 1 & 2 are correct. However, the promotion of the consumption of millets, coarse cereals and unpolished rice, and the promotion of the consumption of poultry eggs are not explicitly stated as objectives of the mission. Hence, statement 3 & 4 are incorrect.
Consider the following statements:
1. The India Sanitation Coalition is a platform to promote sustainable sanitation and is funded by the Government of India and the World Health Organization.
2. The National Institute of Urban Affairs is an apex body of the Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs in Government
of India and provides innovative solutions to address the challenges of Urban India.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Statement 1 is incorrect. The India Sanitation Coalition was launched on June 25, 2015, at FICCI, New Delhi. ISC is a multi-stakeholder platform that brings together the private sector, government, financial institutions, civil society groups, media, donors/bilateral/multilateral, experts, etc., to work in the sanitation space to drive sustainable sanitation through a partnership model. It is not funded by WHO. Statement 2 is incorrect. The National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) is India’s premier urban think tank, shaping the urban narrative since its establishment in 1976, it not an apex body. It is an autonomous body under the Societies Registration Act.