- Why in news
- On 22 July 2026, the Women and Child Development Ministry told the Rajya Sabha how it monitors Mission Vatsalya and how the JJ Act, 2015 backs child care institutions.
- What it is
- Mission Vatsalya is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme for child protection, run by States and UTs. It funds institutional and non-institutional care for children in need of care and protection and children in conflict with law. It works under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015.
- Type and delivery
- A Centrally Sponsored Scheme implemented by States and UTs.
- Objective
- Care, protection, rehabilitation and reintegration of children in difficult circumstances, including missing and vulnerable children.
- Monitoring tools
- The Ministry reviews through meetings with States/UTs, Programme Approval Board meetings, review conferences, field visits and State reports.
- Rehabilitation
- Section 39 requires rehabilitation on the basis of an Individual Care Plan, preferably through family-based care such as restoration, adoption, foster care or sponsorship.
- NITI Aayog evaluation
- DMEO's 2025 evaluation of Centrally Sponsored Schemes recommended continuing the scheme.
Don’t confuse with CNCP vs CCL: Children in Need of Care and Protection are vulnerable children handled by Child Welfare Committees; Children in Conflict with Law are handled by Juvenile Justice Boards.
Don’t confuse with Section 41 vs Section 42: Section 41 requires registration of Child Care Institutions; Section 42 gives the penalty for not registering.
Schemes: 52 Prelims questions since 2013, 10 in Prelims 2026 alone. They test features, the period and who funds it. In Mains, 33 news-triggered questions, mostly GS3.
Why it matters
- Gives a funded, statutory-backed structure for child protection, with a focus on family-based care over institutions.
Problems
- Staffing and inspection of CWCs, JJBs and CCIs rest with States, so vacancies and uneven regulation persist.
Way forward
- Fill vacancies in statutory bodies on time and strengthen State-level inspection and registration of CCIs.
Put in your answer
DMEO evaluation 2025: NITI Aayog's DMEO found the scheme highly relevant and efficient and advised continuation.
- 2025Mains GS2 · Q18Examine child protection policies in the digital era and suggest Commission measures
- 2016Mains GS2 · Q15Examine main provisions of National Child Policy and status of implementation
- 2013Mains GS2 · Q12Critically evaluate restructured Centrally sponsored schemes for vulnerable sections' welfare
UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.
No practice question for this one; the card may still help an answer. Why: Centrally sponsored child protection scheme under JJ Act 2015; lasting topic, but release is routine review.
Worth revising until Prelims 2028: most news questions come within two years of the event.