The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on November 4, 2026, approved the continuation of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme for Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs) for another five years, until March 31, 2031. The initiative, involving a financial outlay of ₹3,788.04 crore, aims to accelerate trials in rape cases and offences against children under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012.
Under the extended scheme, the number of courts will increase from the existing 779 to 850 across participating states and Union Territories. The Centre will contribute ₹2,353.15 crore through the Nirbhaya Fund, while states and UTs will bear the remaining ₹1,434.89 crore. Announcing the Cabinet decision, Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the government remained committed to firmly addressing offences against women and children.
The extension is intended to reduce the backlog of cases, strengthen specialised judicial infrastructure and ensure timely justice for survivors.
Dedicated Courts, Specialised Support
Under the extended scheme, each Fast Track Special Court will have a dedicated judicial officer, a Special Public Prosecutor and six support staff members to facilitate the speedy disposal of pending cases. The staffing arrangement is intended to ensure that these courts can focus on cases involving rape and offences registered under the POCSO Act without being burdened by unrelated judicial matters.
The ₹3,788.04 crore allocation will cover operational expenditure and the expansion of the existing judicial infrastructure over the five-year period from April 1, 2026, to March 31, 2031. According to the government’s funding arrangement, the Centre’s contribution of ₹2,353.15 crore will be drawn from the Nirbhaya Fund, while the state and Union Territory governments will collectively contribute ₹1,434.89 crore. The Department of Justice under the Union Law Ministry will coordinate the implementation with respective state governments and UT administrations.
The expansion will be guided by the pendency of rape and POCSO cases across districts, with additional courts proposed in areas where the backlog is higher. The government has also emphasised creating a more supportive judicial environment for survivors, particularly children, who may experience additional distress while participating in legal proceedings. Vulnerable Witness Deposition Centres and child-friendly court facilities are among the measures encouraged under the scheme. These facilities are intended to help survivors give their testimonies in a safer environment, reducing the possibility of further trauma during the judicial process.
Four Lakh Cases Disposed
Launched on October 2, 2019, the Fast Track Special Courts scheme was introduced following the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2018, and a Supreme Court directive issued on July 25, 2019. The Supreme Court had directed the establishment of exclusive Special Courts in districts having more than 100 pending cases under the POCSO Act. The initiative was subsequently rolled out to establish dedicated courts for the time-bound trial of pending rape cases and offences involving children.
According to the government’s latest figures, the scheme currently operates across 29 states and Union Territories, with 779 functional courts, including 399 exclusive POCSO courts. Since its launch, these courts have disposed of 4,02,457 cases involving rape and offences under the POCSO Act. The government has described the continuation of the scheme as an important step towards strengthening the country’s judicial response to sexual offences and reducing the number of pending cases. The Department of Justice monitors the functioning of these courts through an online FTSC Dashboard, periodic progress reports and consultations with High Courts and state governments.
The monitoring mechanism is intended to assess court performance, track case disposal and identify implementation-related challenges. The latest expansion will increase the number of courts by 71, taking the proposed total to 850. Importantly, the government has indicated that the additional courts will be allocated based on district-level case pendency rather than being distributed uniformly.
This is expected to extend specialised judicial services to more districts where survivors continue to face delays in accessing justice. However, the number of cases disposed of so far also highlights the considerable volume of cases that the judicial system continues to handle. While the extension provides additional institutional support, its effectiveness will depend on the availability of personnel, coordination between the Centre and states, quality of investigations and the ability of courts to conduct timely proceedings.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Expanding Fast Track Special Courts is a step towards addressing delays in cases involving sexual offences against women and children. However, increasing the number of courts must be accompanied by adequate staffing, fair investigations and sensitive treatment of survivors. Timely justice should not compromise due process or the rights of the accused. Will the expansion translate into faster trials and greater confidence in India’s justice system?
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💠#Cabinet 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 i.e. from 01.04.2026 to 31.03.2031 💠The Scheme has a total financial outlay of Rs.3,788.04 crore (Central Share of Rs.2,353.15 crore and State/UT Share of Rs.1,434.89 crore). The Central Share will be funded from the Nirbhaya Fund ➡️Want to know more? Read here: https://t.co/HPGoE5uW3L #CabinetDecisions @MLJ_GoI @MinistryWCD
— PIB India (@PIB_India) November 4, 2026
