The government has issued new adoption guidelines to ensure hassle free adoption process in the country. Under the new guidelines, the maximum combined age for married couple to adopt a child has been increased from 105 years to 110. The minimum age for adoption of a child by a single parent has been reduced to 25 years. There will be centralised data bank of children and Prospective Adoptive Parents. <br/><br/>All specialised adoption agencies would be authorised to do in-country and inter country adoption. There is a provision of transparent and on-line procedure for registration of resident Indians and provision for uploading documents online. Prospective Adoptive Parents have an option to select the state for adoption of a child. Transparent online child referral system with minimal human involvement and referral of child from the central pool will be made available for adoption based on seniority. <br/><br/>Speaking on the occasion, Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi said, the purpose of new guidelines is to curtail inordinate delays in placements of children in parental care through adoption. Mrs Gandhi said, there is a need for enhancing the role of government agencies and make them technologically sound that data of children can be maintained.