Mission Vatsalya (Child Protection Services and Child Welfare Services) is a central government scheme run by the Ministry of Women and Child Development to protect children in difficult circumstances. It gives a monthly sponsorship grant of ₹4,000 per child, supports foster care, adoption and after-care, and runs Child Care Institutions across the country. As of August 2026, the scheme continues to operate, and the Ministry launched a revamped unified Mission Vatsalya portal in March 2026 that brings all child protection services onto one digital platform.
The scheme replaced the earlier Integrated Child Protection Scheme and works as the umbrella programme for child welfare in India. It focuses on family-based, non-institutional care so that children grow up in a safe and loving environment instead of staying in institutions for long periods. The motto of the scheme is to leave no child behind.
Mission Vatsalya (Child Protection Services and Child Welfare Services) - Introduction
The Ministry of Women and Child Development launched the revamped Mission Vatsalya portal in March 2026. This is an integrated digital platform for all stakeholders connected to child protection services. The earlier Khoya-Paya and TrackChild services have been brought under this single portal, which is used by State Child Protection Societies, District Child Protection Units, Child Welfare Committees, Juvenile Justice Boards and Child Care Institutions.
The portal keeps a digital record of individual child care plans, case histories and rehabilitation measures. It also helps monitor the services given to children in Child Care Institutions and to those receiving non-institutional care such as sponsorship, foster care and after-care. This reduces duplication of work and makes the whole process clearer.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Scheme Name | Mission Vatsalya (Child Protection Services and Child Welfare Services) |
| Level | Central |
| Nodal Ministry | Ministry of Women and Child Development |
| Scheme For | Individual |
| Beneficiary States | All states and union territories |
| Category | Women and Child |
| Monthly Grant | ₹4,000 per child for sponsorship, foster care or after-care |
| After-Care Support | Up to 21 years, extendable to 23 years |
| Official Website | missionvatsalya.wcd.gov.in |
Benefits
The scheme gives complete support to help children lead better lives. For instance, if a young boy like Rahul risks being separated from his family because of money problems, he can get financial help under this scheme to stay with his relatives. The key benefits are given below.
- Financial Support: A monthly grant of ₹4,000 per child is given for education and nutrition to children living with biological parents or extended families.
- Foster Care: Children without parental care can stay with unrelated but caring families who receive support for the child.
- Adoption Services: Legal adoption is made easier through Specialised Adoption Agencies, and the whole process runs on the online CARINGS portal linked with the Mission Vatsalya portal.
- After-Care: Young adults leaving institutions get money help for skill development and employment so they can move to independent living.
- Clear Approval: Every district runs a Sponsorship and Foster Care Approval Committee to make sure help reaches the right children on time.
Eligibility
To get the benefit of this scheme, the child should meet the following conditions.
- Age Requirement: For sponsorship, foster care and adoption, the child must be under 18 years. For after-care, the child must be 18 years or older.
- Financial Eligibility: The family income should be below ₹8 lakh per annum, or as specified by the Ministry.
- Voluntary Consent: For foster care, the child should be willing to live with the foster family.
Application Process
The process of getting benefits is handled by the District Child Protection Unit. You should contact your nearest District Child Protection Unit or the Child Welfare Committee to ask about the application process for sponsorship and foster care.
STEP 1 - Contact the District Child Protection Officer or the Child Welfare Committee in your district and explain the situation of the child.
STEP 2 - Provide the details of the child so the committee can assess whether sponsorship, foster care or admission to a Child Care Institution is needed.
STEP 3 - After the Child Welfare Committee passes its order, the placement or sponsorship is approved.
STEP 4 - For sponsorship, the monthly grant of ₹4,000 is sent directly to the family or child account through DBT payment.
STEP 5 - For details of the scheme, you can check the official Mission Vatsalya portal at missionvatsalya.wcd.gov.in.
Documents
You should keep the following original documents ready for verification.
- Birth Certificate as proof of the child's age.
- Aadhaar Card for identity verification.
- School-Going Certificate from the current institution.
- Vaccination records for medical history.
- Health check-up cards.
- Relevant legal documents like Child Welfare Committee orders or adoption papers.
References
Official Mission Vatsalya Portal | Mission Vatsalya Guidelines Document
FAQ's
What is Mission Vatsalya?
Mission Vatsalya is a central government scheme that protects children, promotes family-based care and gives money help to at-risk children across India.
Who implements this scheme?
The Ministry of Women and Child Development implements this scheme through District Child Protection Units in various states and union territories.
What is the amount of financial support?
The scheme gives a monthly grant of ₹4,000 per child to support their needs under sponsorship or foster care programmes.
Who qualifies for after-care support?
Children leaving Child Care Institutions at age 18 are eligible for support until they turn 21, which may be extended to age 23 in exceptional cases with the approval of the Child Welfare Committee.
What is the revamped Mission Vatsalya portal?
The Ministry launched the revamped portal in March 2026 as a single digital platform that brings Khoya-Paya, TrackChild and other child protection services together for all stakeholders.
How is the selection process managed?
The District Magistrate heads a committee that reviews and approves applications in a clear way so that support reaches the right children.