In 2012, the Legislature passed the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act to address child sexual abuse. Before this Act, certain provisions of the Indian Penal Code offered limited protection but contained significant loopholes, including the failure to recognise male victims and the absence of a statutory definition of child sexual abuse in sections 375, 354, and 377. The Goa Children's Act, 2003 was an earlier attempt at legislation at the state level. India ranked among the countries with the highest incidence of sexual offences against children, and surveys revealed that abuse frequently occurred within the child's immediate environment, perpetrated by known persons such as family members or persons in positions of trust. This Act protects children below the age of 18 years from sexual offences and provides a framework for investigation, trial, and adjudication of such cases. The severity of the problem was brought into sharp focus by the ‘Study on Child Abuse: India 2007’ conducted by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, which surveyed over 12,447 children across 13 states. The study found that more than 53 per cent of children surveyed had experienced one or more forms of sexual abuse, and that as few as three per cent of such offences were ever reported to the relevant authorities. [1] The Act divides sexual offences into four broad categories: sexual assault, aggravated sexual assault, penetrative sexual assault, and sexual harassment. The Act also prescribes punishments for each category of offence. With the passing of this legislation, the Legislature created a specific and comprehensive framework to deal with sexual offences against children. [1] Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India, ‘Study on Child Abuse: India 2007’ (Government of India 2007). The study was conducted across 13 states and covered more than 12,447 children across different age groups.