Turning 18 is a milestone most young people celebrate the freedom, the rights, the possibilities that come with it. But for some, that same birthday marks the beginning of a very different kind of reckoning. Every year, nearly 50,000 young adults age out of India's Child Care Institutions. For them, the transition is not a celebration. It is a cliff edge. Overnight, the state withdraws its care and they are left with no family, no savings, no home, and no roadmap for what comes next.
This report examines the transition of young people aging out of institutional care into independent adulthood. It highlights how many care leavers face significant challenges after turning 18, including limited access to education, employment, and stable housing, as well as a lack of life skills and supportive social networks. Despite existing policy provisions for aftercare, the report finds that implementation is inconsistent, leaving many young people vulnerable to poverty, exploitation, and social exclusion.
