Children are an important marginalized group who, instead of playing in the sun and going to school, often suffers from various types of abuse, especially sexual abuse.They are the most vulnerable sections in the society. They are the most vulnerable to such a crime because they do not understand the consequences and severity of the problem. Innocent little children can only feel the pain of the unfortunate if they leave a scar on their body and mind forever. A welcome development has been the enactment of a special law i.e. Protection of Children against Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act 2012 that criminalises a range of acts including child rape, harassment, and exploitation for pornography. The paper highlights the intended benefits and the unintended consequences that might arise from the application of the law in the Indian context. On the basis of some case studies, the applicability of this law is examined in addition to its deficiencies. The passing of POCSO has been a major step forward in securing children’s rights. The letter and spirit of the law, which defines a child as anyone under 18 years of age, is to protect children from sexual abuse. However, criminalising all sexual behaviour under 18 years of age can be problematic.

Per Capita Net State Domestic Product, Economic Activity, Inter-Sectoral Dynamics, Discriminant Function, Classification Matrix