# Cabinet extends fast-track courts for rape and POCSO cases to 2031 with ₹3,788 crore

URL: https://upsc.help/current-affairs/2026-11-05/ftsc-scheme-extended-2031/
Date: 5 November 2026 (2026-11-05)
Source: The Hindu, Page 12
UPSC papers: GS2, GS1
Publisher: upsc.help (Pratidin), free and open-source UPSC Civil Services current affairs. Not affiliated with UPSC. Every fact was checked against the source reports by a separate review before publishing.

**In one line:** The Centre has extended its fast-track court scheme for rape and child sexual abuse trials by five years and plans to raise the number of courts from 779 to 850.

On 4 November 2026, the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved continuing the Centrally Sponsored Scheme for Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs), including exclusive POCSO courts, for five more years, from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2031. The total outlay is ₹3,788.04 crore. The Central share of ₹2,353.15 crore will come from the Nirbhaya Fund, and States and Union Territories will bear ₹1,434.89 crore. The scheme exists to speed up trials of rape cases and of offences under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012. Each FTSC is staffed by one judicial officer, one dedicated special public prosecutor and six support staff.

According to the Cabinet decision, 779 FTSCs are functional today across 29 States and UTs, of which 399 are exclusive POCSO courts, and together they have disposed of 4,02,457 cases since the scheme began. The government now plans to run 850 FTSCs, with courts allotted on the basis of case pendency in each State. The scheme also encourages vulnerable witness deposition centres and child-friendly court spaces, so that victims can testify without facing the accused. A Centrally Sponsored Scheme is one where the Centre and States share costs; for this scheme the general sharing pattern is 60:40, and 90:10 for north-eastern and Himalayan States.

The scheme was launched on 2 October 2019, initially for one year, after the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2018 tightened punishment for rape and set time limits for investigation and trial. It also followed a Supreme Court direction of 25 July 2019, in a suo motu case on rising child rape incidents, that districts with more than 100 pending POCSO cases should have an exclusive special court. The scheme was extended to 31 March 2026 and has now been extended to 2031. The POCSO Act expects a special court to complete a trial within one year of taking cognizance. Earlier reviews of the scheme have flagged too few courts for the caseload, unspent Nirbhaya Fund money and a shortage of victim-friendly facilities, so closing the gap between that goal and actual pendency is the scheme's real test.

## Prelims facts

- On 4 November 2026 the Cabinet extended the FTSC scheme from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2031 with an outlay of ₹3,788.04 crore.
- The Central share of ₹2,353.15 crore comes from the Nirbhaya Fund; States and UTs bear ₹1,434.89 crore.
- 779 FTSCs, including 399 exclusive POCSO courts, are functional in 29 States and UTs and have disposed of 4,02,457 cases; the target is 850 courts.
- The scheme began on 2 October 2019 after the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2018 and a Supreme Court suo motu direction of 25 July 2019.
- Each FTSC has one judicial officer, one special public prosecutor and six support staff.

## Quick recall

- **Period of the extended FTSC scheme?** 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2031 (FY 2026-27 to FY 2030-31).
- **Total outlay of the extension?** ₹3,788.04 crore.
- **Source of the Central share?** The Nirbhaya Fund (₹2,353.15 crore).
- **How many FTSCs are functional, and how many are exclusive POCSO courts?** 779, of which 399 are exclusive POCSO courts.
- **Cases disposed of by FTSCs since inception?** 4,02,457.
- **When was the FTSC scheme launched?** 2 October 2019.
- **Staff of each FTSC?** One judicial officer, one special public prosecutor and six support staff.
- **Supreme Court threshold for an exclusive POCSO court in a district (2019)?** More than 100 pending POCSO cases.

## Prelims practice question

With reference to the Fast Track Special Courts (FTSC) scheme, consider the following statements:
1. It is a Central Sector Scheme fully funded by the Union government.
2. The Central share is funded from the Nirbhaya Fund.
3. It covers trials of rape cases and of offences under the POCSO Act, 2012.
Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (b) 2 and 3 only. Statement 1 is wrong: it is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme, with States and UTs bearing ₹1,434.89 crore of the ₹3,788.04 crore outlay. Statements 2 and 3 are correct as per the Cabinet decision of 4 November 2026.

## UPSC previous-year questions this connects to

- UPSC Mains 2014, GS4: We are witnessing increasing instances of sexual violence against women in the country. Despite existing legal provisions against it, the number of such incidences is on the rise. Suggest some innovative measures to tackle this menace. (https://upsc.help/pyq/gs4/#q368)
  How to use this story in the answer: Use the scheme to argue that certainty and speed of trial, not only harsher laws, deter sexual violence, and to suggest victim-centred court measures.
- UPSC Mains 2026, GS2: Can the constitutional mandate of rights-based welfare be effectively realised in the context of non-integrated governance and minimal public investment? Examine. (https://upsc.help/pyq/q099-can-constitutional-mandate-rights-based-welfare-effectively-realised/)
  How to use this story in the answer: Cite the FTSC scheme as an example where delivering a legal right depends on joint funding and coordinated State capacity.
- UPSC Mains 2025, GS2: The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights has to address the challenges faced by children in the digital era. Examine the existing policies and suggest measures the Commission can initiate to tackle the issue. (https://upsc.help/pyq/q077-national-commission-protection-child-rights-has-address/)

## Mains practice question

Fast Track Special Courts have disposed of over four lakh cases since 2019, yet pendency in rape and POCSO cases remains a concern. Examine the role of these courts and suggest measures to make them more effective. (250 words)

### Model answer

On 4 November 2026 the Cabinet extended the Fast Track Special Courts (FTSC) scheme to 31 March 2031 with ₹3,788.04 crore, ₹2,353.15 crore of it from the Nirbhaya Fund.

## Role of FTSCs
- **Speed:** 779 functional courts, including 399 exclusive POCSO courts, have disposed of 4,02,457 cases since 2 October 2019.
- **Legal mandate:** the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2018 set time limits for investigation and trial; POCSO expects trials within a year of cognizance.
- **Judicial push:** the Supreme Court's 25 July 2019 suo motu direction sought exclusive POCSO courts in districts with over 100 pending cases.
- **Victim-centred design:** dedicated special public prosecutors, vulnerable witness deposition centres and child-friendly spaces.

## Limitations
- Courts are fewer than needed: the plan is 850, against continuing pendency.
- Trials depend on police investigation and forensic reports; delays there stall courts.
- If judicial officers are drawn from the regular cadre, pendency can shift to other courts.
- Cost sharing (60:40, 90:10 for north-eastern and Himalayan States) depends on State budgets and timely releases.

## Measures
- Allocate courts by pendency data, as the extension proposes, and fill vacancies quickly.
- Strengthen forensic laboratories and time-bound reporting.
- Make deposition centres and support persons universal.
- Track case-level timelines through e-Courts data and publish State-wise performance.
- Train judges and prosecutors in child-sensitive procedure.

FTSCs are a necessary bridge, but lasting speed needs a stronger whole chain of criminal justice, from investigation to judgment.

## The basics

## Why this matters
Delay in sexual offence trials hurts twice: victims relive trauma for years, and the deterrent value of punishment fades. Fast Track Special Courts are India's main administrative answer. To judge the extension, you need to know the law they enforce, how a Centrally Sponsored Scheme is funded, and where delay actually comes from.

## The scheme in one view

## The laws behind it
The POCSO Act, 2012 defines sexual offences against anyone below 18, requires special courts, and expects trials to finish within a year of cognizance. The Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2018 raised punishments for rape and set two-month limits for investigation and trial in such cases. The Supreme Court then asked for exclusive POCSO courts in districts with over 100 pending cases. Together these produced the scheme in 2019.

## Who pays
Under a Centrally Sponsored Scheme, the Centre designs and part-funds a programme that States run. Here the Central share comes from the Nirbhaya Fund, a dedicated, non-lapsable fund. States must add their share and provide judges and buildings.

## Where delay really sits
A court can only move as fast as the case file. Judicial pendency and the criminal justice chain explains why investigation, forensic reports, witness protection and judge vacancies decide whether a fast-track court is actually fast.

## Sources

- https://kashmirdespatch.com/cabinet-approves-continuation-of-the-centrally-sponsored-scheme-for-fast-track-special-courts-ftscs-for-expeditious-trial-of-cases-of-rape-and-pocso-protection-of-children-from-sexual-offences-act/
- https://superkalam.com/current-affairs/05-11-2026/fast-track-special-courts-scheme-extended-till-2031-pg12-0f7d8fe0-6b0c-4a59-82f0-decc5a463d2e
- https://clpgnfprcfoundation.substack.com/p/note-on-cabinet-decisions-4th-november
- https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/fast-track-special-courts-2