Pariksha SaathiCabinet approves continuation of the Fast Track Special Courts scheme for rape and POCSO Act cases for five more years (FY 2026-27 to FY 2030-31), with an outlay of Rs 3,788.04 crore
The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister, has approved the continuation of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) for Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs), including exclusive POCSO Courts, for a further period of five years, from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2031 (FY 2026-27 to FY 2030-31), the government said on 4 November 2026. The scheme has a total financial outlay of Rs 3,788.04 crore - a Central Share of Rs 2,353.15 crore and a State/UT Share of Rs 1,434.89 crore - and the Central Share will be funded from the Nirbhaya Fund. The scheme provides for operationalising 850 FTSCs, including exclusive POCSO Courts, across participating States/UTs - an expansion from the current 779, so that coverage extends to additional districts to be identified on the basis of the pendency of rape and POCSO Act cases - with a dedicated Judicial Officer, a Special Public Prosecutor and 6 support staff for each court, and financial assistance to participating States/UTs for operational expenditure in accordance with the CSS funding pattern. It will be implemented by the Department of Justice in coordination with State Governments and UT Administrations; the Department will monitor the courts' performance through the FTSC Dashboard, periodic progress reports and the States' expenditure statements. According to the release, the scheme has been operational since October 2019 and 29 States/UTs participate in it; 779 FTSCs, including 399 exclusive POCSO Courts, are functional, and 4,02,457 cases have been disposed of since its inception. It was launched in pursuance of the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2018 and in compliance with the Supreme Court's directions in Suo Motu Writ (Criminal) No. 1/2019, which directed exclusive Special Courts in districts having more than 100 pending cases under the POCSO Act. The primary beneficiaries are women and children who are victims of rape and of offences under the POCSO Act, 2012; the scheme also encourages the establishment of Vulnerable Witness Deposition Centres (VWDCs) and child-friendly court spaces. Initially launched for one year, the scheme had been extended up to 31 March 2026.
Drafted with AI assistance from the official PIB release linked above and checked against it by a second AI pass. Not line-edited by a human.
Learning context
On 29 November 2023, PIB reported that the Union Cabinet had approved the continuation of Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs) as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme for a further three years, from April 2023 to March 2026, with a financial implication of Rs 1952.23 crore (Rs 1207.24 crore as Central Share and Rs 744.99 crore as State share), the Central Share to be funded from the Nirbhaya Fund. The release recalled that the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2018, which included stringent punishment including the death penalty for rape offenders, led to the creation of FTSCs; that the Centrally Sponsored Scheme was formulated in August 2019 and, following the Supreme Court's directions in suo motu Writ Petition (Criminal) No. 1/2019, mandated exclusive POCSO Courts for districts with over 100 POCSO Act cases; and that, initially commenced in October 2019 for one year, the scheme had been extended for an additional two years. Implemented by the Department of Justice, Ministry of Law & Justice, the scheme augments State Government resources for establishing FTSCs. By then thirty States/UTs had participated in it, operationalising 761 FTSCs, including 414 exclusive POCSO Courts, which had resolved over 1,95,000 cases.
Check yourself: in November 2023, for which period and with what financial implication did the Cabinet continue the FTSC scheme, and how many FTSCs had been operationalised by then?
From April 2023 to March 2026, with Rs 1952.23 crore; 761 FTSCs, including 414 exclusive POCSO Courts.
Revision task: from this release, note the new period, the total outlay and its Central and State/UT shares, the fund for the Central Share, the number of FTSCs provided for and the current number, the staff for each court, the implementing department and the scheme's status figures (participating States/UTs, exclusive POCSO Courts, cases disposed of); from the note, the previous period and outlay, the Act and the Supreme Court case behind the scheme, and the number of courts in November 2023. Compare the two outlays and the two court numbers.
Test yourself
The Union Cabinet has approved the continuation of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme for Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs) for rape and POCSO Act cases for five years (FY 2026-27 to FY 2030-31), the government said on 4 November 2026. From which fund will the scheme's Central Share be funded?
Show the answer
Answer: Nirbhaya Fund
The scheme has a total financial outlay of Rs 3,788.04 crore - a Central Share of Rs 2,353.15 crore and a State/UT Share of Rs 1,434.89 crore - and the release says the Central Share will be funded from the Nirbhaya Fund. The scheme provides for 850 FTSCs, including exclusive POCSO Courts, up from the current 779.
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