The Union Cabinet has renewed the centrally sponsored scheme for fast track courts handling rape and child sexual abuse cases and raised the number of courts from 779 to 850.

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• The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved continuation of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme for Fast Track Special Courts on 4 November 2026.
• The scheme covers exclusive POCSO courts and runs for five years, from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2031.
• The total financial outlay is ₹3,788.04 crore.
• The number of courts under the scheme will rise from the current 779 to 850.
• The expansion will extend coverage to additional districts, based on district-wise pendency of rape and POCSO cases.
• The existing 779 courts include 399 exclusive POCSO courts and operate in 29 States and Union Territories.
• Since inception, these courts have disposed of 4,02,457 cases.
• The scheme aims at speedy trial of pending cases of rape and offences under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act.
• It was introduced in October 2019 and had earlier been extended for three years in November 2023.
• Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced the decision after the Cabinet meeting.

Tags: FastTrackSpecialCourts, POCSOAct, UnionCabinet