The Children in India 2025 report, released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), has revealed encouraging trends in child welfare. The data shows that the rate of early marriage among girls has declined in recent years, while the number of adoptions has seen a steady rise across the country.

According to the report, 26.8 percent of women aged 20–24 were married before turning 18 in 2015–16. This figure fell to 23.3 percent in 2019–21, indicating progress in reducing child marriage, which often leads to physical, mental, and educational challenges for young girls.

At the same time, adoption figures have improved. In 2017–18, a total of 3,927 children were adopted, which increased to 4,515 in 2024–25. Interestingly, the number of girls adopted has consistently been higher than boys. In the latest year, 2,336 girls were adopted compared to 1,819 boys. Adoption numbers within the country have ranged between 2,991 and 4,155 annually, while international adoptions have remained between 360 and 653 per year.

The report also highlighted health concerns among children. It found that West Bengal recorded the highest percentage of children aged 5–9 with high triglyceride levels at 67 percent, followed by several North-Eastern states, including Sikkim (64.6 percent), Assam (57 percent), Nagaland (55.5 percent), and Manipur (54.7 percent). However, the condition was less common among adolescents aged 10–19, with only 16 percent showing high triglycerides and fewer than 4 percent having elevated LDL (bad cholesterol).

The findings suggest that while early marriage is gradually declining and adoption rates are rising—particularly for girls—health challenges like high blood fat among younger children remain a pressing concern in many parts of the country.