Even though the fundamental elements of competitive examinations in India over the last decade have remained similar to those of previous years, the technology associated with them continues to evolve. Imagine a JEE, NEET or IAS aspirant being able to identify and simplify the problems within
"Call me Ringo." That's what the former Beatles drummer says when asked if we should call him Sir. He joins us at the swanky Sunset Marquis hotel in West Hollywood where rock stars have gathered for decades in a luxury oasis behind the Sunset Strip."Call me Ringo
India is set to become a global sporting powerhouse. Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya predicts India will rank among the top 10 sporting nations by 2036. By 2047, the nation is projected to break into the top five. This vision is fueled by government initiatives like Fit India and Khelo India
The Gauhati High Court on Friday (April 24, 2026) rejected Congress leader Pawan Khera’s anticipatory bail plea in connection with a case registered by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s wife, Riniki Bhuyan Sharma, in the Assam Police Crime Branch
Benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty tumbled in early trade on Friday (April 24, 2026) as surging oil prices and unabated foreign fund outflows unnerved investors. Weakness in IT stocks and a negative trend in global markets also weighed on investor sentiment
A crumbling system is depriving India's young offenders of a 'second chance'
A crumbling system is depriving India's young offenders of a 'second chance'
Pooja* was 16 years old when she was accused of murdering her mother.
The teenager, who lived with her alcoholic stepfather in a poor neighbourhood in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, was arrested in 2018 and sent to jail.
Her lawyer told the police that Pooja was a minor. According to Indian law, she should have been produced before a Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) - a three-member bench that deals with matters concerning children in conflict with the law - within 24 hours of her arrest. But this was not done, Yamina Rizvi, a lawyer who took over Pooja's case in 2024, told the BBC.
JJBs, which comprise of a principal magistrate and two social workers, decide if a child aged 16-18 should be tried as an adult in case of heinous crimes - a provision introduced in India's Juvenile Justice law after the 2012 Delhi gang rape case.
But instead of appearing before a JJB, Pooja was lodged in a prison for six years while her case was heard in an adult court.
"JJBs are also required to make regular visits to prisons to check if minors have been lodged there. But not a single check was conducted while Pooja was in prison," Rizvi alleges.
In 2024, Pooja's case was finally transferred to a JJB, which found that she was indeed a minor at the time of the alleged crime. She was released on time served as the maximum sentence for a juvenile is three years and Pooja had already spent six years in prison.
"Pooja is one of thousands of children who have been let down by the juvenile justice system," Rizvi says.
It has been nearly four decades since India passed its first comprehensive legislation to deal with children in conflict with the law - the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act. It has been amended several times since then to strengthen its provisions.
The law aims to protect children and create opportunities for reform so that they can reintegrate into society and live meaningful lives.
But experts who work with children say that there is a long way to go before the system can properly implement the ideals the law preaches.
The strength of India's juvenile justice system depends heavily on the health of its JJBs - quasi-judicial panels tasked with ensuring that a child's rights are protected even as they face the legal consequences of their actions.
JJBs, established in 2000, don't function in isolation but are the fulcrum of a network comprising child-friendly services including sensitised police units, legal aid services and rehabilitation centres.
But research shows that all is not well with these pivotal panels. For one, getting information about them is difficult as there is no single government portal that tracks and publicly shares data related to them.
Data shared in November by the India Justice Report (IJR) - a report created by civil society organisations to track the effectiveness of India's justice system - shows that as of 2023, more than half the cases before 362 JJBs were pending hearing. The report doesn't cover all of India's JJBs as it is based on answers from states that responded to a set of questions sent by IJR through the Right to Information Act.
According to the report, India's 745 districts have 707 JJBs.
The report also found that one in four JJBs lacked a full bench, even though the law mandates that every district should have at least one fully-staffed JJB.
Maja Daruwala, editor at IJR, says that the dearth of accurate data indicates poor oversight and creates a lack of accountability, which in turn seriously impacts the quality of care and rehabilitation opportunities juveniles receive.
Fr Antony Sebastian, founder of Echo, an NGO working for the welfare of juveniles, says that in the absence of JJBs, children lose not just the protection guaranteed to them by law, but also the chance to reform.
"These children largely come from poor backgrounds and dysfunctional families, and they grow up witnessing violence and scarcity. When the police beat them and dump them in jails, they're revictimised all over again," says Fr Sebastian, a former principal magistrate on two separate JJBs in Bengaluru city.
For minors not sent to jail, there isn't much scope for reformation in child care institutions (facilities that house children in conflict with the law), says Deeksha Gujral, programme director at iProbono, which offers legal aid to vulnerable people.
JJBs can send children accused of crimes to observation homes, while those found to have committed an offence are placed in special homes. A separate facility, called a 'place of safety', houses children aged 16-18 years who are accused or found guilty of committing heinous offences.
JJBs are mandated to inspect these facilities every month to ensure they meet the standards prescribed by law. However, many children's rights advocates say that regular checks seldom happen and even if they do, they're conducted in a superficial manner.
Gujral, who has visited several observation and special homes in the course of her work, says that many of them are overcrowded, and lack counsellors or meaningful recreational, educational and vocational facilities. Additionally, while there are separate facilities for boys and girls, the mandated age-based segregation within these facilities is not always adhered to.
"All the children do is eat, sleep and watch TV. In places like Delhi, where there already exists a strong gang and drug culture, these power dynamics are replicated within the residential facilities. Younger, less-experienced children look to older boys with connections to gangs outside the facility for protection," Gujral says, adding that incidents of violence and sexual abuse are also not uncommon.
The BBC has sent a list of questions to the federal ministry of women and child development, which oversees the juvenile justice system, but has not received a response.
Rizvi says that authorities in many facilities are also jaded.
"They believe that these children are beyond help, and nothing they do will change them," she says, adding that she has seen this belief in many lawyers who represent children too.
Fr Sebastian says that apathy takes root when there's a lack of understanding about the child's reality and the spirit of the law.
He says that Echo, which runs a special home, has seen success stories where children found guilty of serious offences like murder and rape have been able to turn around their lives.
He attributes this to the focus Echo places on running vocational training programmes like dairy and poultry farming, and hotel management, as well as offering regular counselling sessions.
Darshan* was brought to Echo after he was found guilty of murdering his friend during a fight about a cricket match. Before that, he lived on the streets.
"Counselling sessions at Echo helped Darshan confront what he had done, but also examine why he had done it," Fr Sebastian says.
He was then enrolled in a behaviour modification programme while he completed his education through distance learning. Later, he trained in hotel management and is working with a well-known hotel.
Every child deserves a second chance," Fr Sebastian says. "As a society, we owe them at least that much.
*Names have been changed as Indian law prohibits the disclosure of a juvenile offender's identity.
Source: BBC
Related Posts: Pooja Bedi Says Mother Protima Bedi Died Jill Biden's ex-husband William Stevenson charged with murdering wife Singer D4vd arrested on suspicion of murdering teenage girl Influencer Sejal Kumar wears her mother's Banarasi saree for her reception Janhvi Kapoor Opens Up About How Losing Her Mother Changed Where She Found Her Self-Worth US mother says late-night Google search helped save her 6-year-old son’s life When Pooja Dhingra found courage in the pages of an old recipe book Hyderabad Single Mother Drives Uber To Support Her 3 Kids Lisa Ray Reveals Her Career Began In Grief After Mother Was Left Paralyzed Emotional Sussanne Khan mourns the loss of her mother
Kolkata saw inventory levels improve further, with unsold housing stock declining 7% to 19,062 units from 20,595 units a year earlier Kolkata recorded a 5% year-on-year rise in housing sales to 4,043 units in the first quarter of 2026, outperforming the broader Indian housing market where overall
7 hours ago
Manchester City moved to the top of the Premier League table with a narrow 1-0 win over Burnley at Turf Moor, a result that also confirmed the hosts’ relegation on Wednesday. A fifth-minute strike from Erling Haaland proved decisive as City climbed above Arsenal on goals scored
7 hours ago
Chennai Super Kings continue to be without MS Dhoni who is yet to attain full fitness after enduring a calf strain. Chennai Super Kings remain hopeful that MS Dhoni will feature for the franchise later this IPL season, despite already missing seven matches due to a calf strain
7 hours ago
IIT Madras's SWAYAM plus launches 3 new AI courses for beginners, registration beginsIIT Madras's SWAYAM plus has launched three new AI courses for beginners. The registration process is underway and will close on May 10. Published on: Apr 24
7 hours ago
Veteran actor Annu Kapoor is often known for voicing his opinions candidly, never shying away from sharing his thoughts on films, society, and the industry with his trademark honesty and wit. In 2025, he found himself at the centre of a controversy after commenting on Tamannaah Bhatia’s
7 hours ago
Chhattisgarh: Forest dept rolls out action plan for conservation, livelihoods in BalodabazarChhattisgarh: Forest dept rolls out action plan for conservation, livelihoods in Balodabazar Published on: Apr 24, 2026 2:11 PM IST PTI Share via Copy link Raipur
7 hours ago
West Bengal Elections BJP vs TMC: Political campaigns in West Bengal are creatively using fish and meat, staples of Bengali culture, to connect with voters. This strategy highlights the significant economic importance of the state's non-vegetarian food industry
7 hours ago
A father and his toddler daughter have gone viral after sharing videos of their bike rides together, with heartwarming clips of their outings crossing millions of views online. Gareth Williams, 33, from Blaenau Gwent in Wales, began filming short clips of rides with his daughter Indie after
7 hours ago
Editorial independence is core to our work. Some links may earn us a commission, without influencing our opinions.Under ₹1000 but still cute: These 8 summer dresses prove budget can look chicLooking stylish doesn’t have to come with a heavy price tag. These dresses prove that under ₹1000
7 hours ago
Singapore is transforming from East-West gateway to neutral ground for the AI sector, with Chinese startups hoping to operate beyond government reach while U.S. firms seek foreign talent without the headache of stricter visa regulations. The city-state
7 hours ago
Odisha govt asks colleges, varsities to constitute internal committees under POSH ActThe Higher Edu Dept directed universities, colleges, and teacher education institutions to strictly adhere to the provisions of the POSH Act, or face action. Published on: Apr 24
7 hours ago
Theegala, Rai make modest start in Zurich ClassicTheegala, Rai make modest start in Zurich Classic Published on: Apr 24, 2026 11:48 AM IST PTI Share via Copy link Avondale , Sahith Theegala and Aaron Rai, who are very close friends, made a modest start in the Zurich Classic
7 hours ago
China's DeepSeek releases long-awaited new AI modelDeepSeek-V4, "features an ultra-long context", the company said in a statement on social media platform WeChat, hailing it as “world-leading.” Published on: Apr 24, 2026 1:31 PM IST AFP Share via Copy link Chinese startup DeepSeek released a
7 hours ago
Near the Kremlin several dozen people are queuing outside the presidential administration office. They've come to submit petitions calling on President Vladimir Putin to end a crackdown on the internet. Russian authorities have been tightening control of the country's cyber space
7 hours ago
AirPods Max 2 is Apple doubling down on a sharp formula of subtle refinementFive years after the original, the AirPods Max 2 keeps that divisive yet iconic design , but delivers important audio hardware upgrades that define renewed finesse Published on: Apr 24
7 hours ago
![New Delhi [India], April 24 (ANI): Australian cricketing icons Matthew Hayden and Brett Lee extended birthday wishes to Indian master blaster Sachin Tendulkar](http://newsorbit360.com/files/news/en/imgs/the-man-who-became-cricket.webp?height=520)
New Delhi [India], April 24 (ANI): Australian cricketing icons Matthew Hayden and Brett Lee extended birthday wishes to Indian master blaster Sachin Tendulkar on his birthday. Sachin, perhaps the most technically flawless batter to live, with nearly every cricket record to his name
7 hours ago
Restaurant Week India (RWI) is back this April after a decade out of circulation, but it returns to a dining culture that no longer needs an introduction. Running from April 24 to May 3 across Mumbai, Delhi-NCR, and Bengaluru, the 2026 edition brings together over 55 restaurants offering
7 hours ago
A woman who was taking a toilet break while on a road trip in the Australian outback ended up getting stuck waist-deep in a pit latrine after it collapsed. She was "trapped in the sewage pit for approximately three hours, until [she was] rescued by a local tradesman who happened to be passing by
7 hours ago
Akshay Kumar and Vidya Balan have officially kicked off the next schedule of their upcoming film with director Anees Bazmee, as the team heads to Kerala for an extensive shoot. The development was confirmed by Akshay himself, who shared a video on social media, giving fans a glimpse of the journey
7 hours ago
The Uttarakhand Board of School Education (UBSE), Dehradun, is set to announce the Class 10 and Class 12 results on April 25. The UBSE board exams for 2026 were held across the state from February 21 to March 20, while practical exams were conducted between January 16 and February 15 at schools and
7 hours ago
A US special forces soldier involved in the military operation that captured Nicolas Maduro has been arrested after he allegedly bet on the removal of Venezuela's former leader before the information was publicly available. The US Department of Justice (DOJ) has charged Gannon Ken Van Dyke after he
7 hours ago
An Iranian Ship Tried to Slip the Blockade. A U.S. Destroyer Chased It Down.Hundreds of ghost-fleet vessels are playing a game of cat-and-mouse as the U.S. tries to lock down Iran’s oil trade and pressure it to accept Trump’s terms Published on: Apr 24
7 hours ago
Marco Rubio has said that the Iranian footballers will be allowed to take part in this year’s FIFA World Cup 2026 as he distanced the U.S. government from a reported idea suggesting that Italy could replace Iran in the tournament. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office
7 hours ago
Who is Parminder Singh? Akash Ambani welcomes ex-Google MD as CEO of Reliance-Meta AI ventureParminder Singh was appointed as the CEO of REIL, a joint venture between Reliance Intelligence Limited and Facebook Overseas Inc. Published on: Apr 24
7 hours ago
India is projected to have 313 billionaires and more than 25,200 ultra-high net worth individuals by 2031, according to a study by global property management firm Knight Frank. India currently has 207 billionaires and 19,877 ultra-high net worth individuals, the study showed
7 hours ago
A strong El Nino is expected in the second half of 2026. This will bring hotter, drier weather to Asia. Crops and food supplies will be affected. Farmers face fertiliser shortages and high fuel costs. India anticipates below-average monsoon rains
7 hours ago
Nita Ambani at TIME100 Gala ditches gowns, represents India in a saree and stunning pearl-diamond jewels | PICSAt the TIME100 gala, Nita Ambani wore an exquisite traditional saree showcasing Indian craftsmanship, paired with statement jewellery from her collection. Updated on: Apr 24
7 hours ago
