NEW DELHI — The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the continuation of the centrally sponsored scheme for Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs), including exclusive POCSO courts, for a further five years, from April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2031, according to the official release published by the Prime Minister's office. The courts are meant for the expeditious trial of rape cases and offences under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012.

Source: PMO / PIB release

The scheme has a total financial outlay of Rs 3,788.04 crore. The Centre will bear Rs 2,353.15 crore, funded from the Nirbhaya Fund, while states and Union Territories will contribute Rs 1,434.89 crore, the release said.

Source: PMO / PIB release

The approval provides for operationalising up to 850 FTSCs across participating states and Union Territories. At present, 779 FTSCs, including 399 exclusive POCSO courts, are functional across 29 states and UTs, YourStory reported, citing the PIB release. Each court will have a dedicated judicial officer, a special public prosecutor and six support staff to speed up disposal of pending rape and POCSO cases.

Source: YourStory (PIB release)

The FTSC scheme was launched on October 2, 2019, following the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2018 and Supreme Court directions of July 25, 2019, and had earlier been extended up to March 31, 2026. The government says the primary beneficiaries are women and children who are victims of rape and offences under the POCSO Act, and official figures cited in coverage of the Cabinet note put disposals by these courts at over 4.02 lakh cases since the scheme began.

Source: PMO / PIB release