Missing Children in India

Context: The Supreme Court was informed that nearly 36,000 children remain untraced across India since 2020, despite police recovering the majority of 3 lakh missing children.

About Missing Children in India:

• Total Missing (2020-24): Nearly 3 lakh children went missing.

• Untraced Children: 36,000 children remain missing, highlighting gaps in law enforcement.

• State-wise Data: Madhya Pradesh: 58,665 missing, 45,585 recovered, 3,955 still missing. Bihar and Odisha are next highest in order. Non-reporting States: Delhi, Punjab, Nagaland, Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, J&K, Andhra Pradesh failed to provide data.

• Madhya Pradesh: 58,665 missing, 45,585 recovered, 3,955 still missing.

• Bihar and Odisha are next highest in order.

• Non-reporting States: Delhi, Punjab, Nagaland, Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, J&K, Andhra Pradesh failed to provide data.

• Government & Legal Measures

• Khoya-Paya Portal: Centralized online tracking system for missing children. Anti-Human Trafficking Units (AHTUs): ₹100 crore allocated for strengthening AHTUs in every district. Untraced cases (4+ months) must be transferred to AHTUs.

• Khoya-Paya Portal: Centralized online tracking system for missing children.

• Anti-Human Trafficking Units (AHTUs): ₹100 crore allocated for strengthening AHTUs in every district. Untraced cases (4+ months) must be transferred to AHTUs.

• ₹100 crore allocated for strengthening AHTUs in every district.

• Untraced cases (4+ months) must be transferred to AHTUs.

Relevance in UPSC Exam Syllabus:

• GS Paper 2 – Governance & Social Justice

• Child Protection Laws: Juvenile Justice Act, POCSO Act, National Child Policy. Law Enforcement Challenges: Need for CBI/NIA involvement in organized trafficking cases.

• Child Protection Laws: Juvenile Justice Act, POCSO Act, National Child Policy.

• Law Enforcement Challenges: Need for CBI/NIA involvement in organized trafficking cases.

• GS Paper 3 – Internal Security

• Human Trafficking: Missing children’s cases often linked to forced labor, organ trade, and sexual exploitation. Cyber-enabled Trafficking: Growing use of dark web and social media for trafficking networks.

• Human Trafficking: Missing children’s cases often linked to forced labor, organ trade, and sexual exploitation.

• Cyber-enabled Trafficking: Growing use of dark web and social media for trafficking networks.

• Ethics (GS Paper 4)

• State’s Moral Responsibility: Ensuring child safety and justice. Humanitarian Concerns: Protecting vulnerable children from exploitation and abuse.

• State’s Moral Responsibility: Ensuring child safety and justice.

• Humanitarian Concerns: Protecting vulnerable children from exploitation and abuse.