<p>Child or Juvenile as per existing  laws is a person who is under the age of eighteen years.</p>
<p> This definition of  Juvenile is now accepted universally as per the directions of the United  Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).</p>
<p>As per the Indian Laws, the  Juvenile Justice Law of India is governed by Care and Protection Act of 2000.  As per Section 2 (k) of the Juvenile Justice Act, 2000 a “child” or “juvenile”  is a person who is below the age of eighteen. </p>
<p>Definitions of  Juvenile/Child under various national legislations:</p>
<ul>
  <li>Child Marriage Restraint  Act, 1929. This is the earliest law which defines the term ‘Child’.</li>
  <ul>
    <li>As per Section 2 (a) of the Law, “Child” is a person and if  he is a male, he should have attained twenty one years and in case of female should  have completed eighteen years of age.</li>
  </ul>
  <li>Immoral Traffic  (Prevention) Act, 1956</li>
  <ul>
    <li>Section 2 (a) of the Immoral Trafficking Act defines “Child” as  a person who is below the age of sixteen years.</li>
  </ul>
  <li>Child Labor (Prohibition  and Regulation) Act, 1986</li>
  <ul>
    <li>Section 2 (ii) of the Child labor law defines the “Child” as  a person who is below the age of fourteen years.</li>
  </ul>
</ul>
<h4>Children/Juveniles need care and protection (CCNP)?</h4>
<p>The Section 2 (d) of  Juvenile Justice Act clearly defines what does a child in need of care and  protection means:</p>
<ul>
  <li>Child who is homeless and  does not have any place for living and is without any apparent means of survival.</li>
  <li>Child who is dependent on  begging or working for survival or is a street child. </li>
  <li>Child who is living with a  guardian or a person who is significant to cause harm or injure or kill the  child. Also in case there is a possibility of abusing, neglecting or  threatening the child in future by that person. </li>
  <li>Child who is mentally  unstable or physically challenged and does not have anyone to look after his/her  affairs. Also, a child suffering with incurable or deadly disease without any  support. </li>
  <li>Child whose guardian or  parent is debilitated and cannot look after the affairs and livelihood of the  child.</li>
  <li>Child whose parents are  missing or could not be found after considerable enquiry. Also, the child whose  parents are not willing to take the responsibility or has abandoned the child. </li>
  <li>Child who is subjected to  sexual abuse, torture, exploitation or any other activities which is illegal as  per the Juvenile law. </li>
  <li>Child who shows symptoms  or susceptibility of getting into drug trafficking or abuse in the future.</li>
  <li>Child who has a  possibility of being abused in the future for unconscionable gain.</li>
  <li>Child who has been a  victim of natural calamity, civil turmoil, rebellion or army conflict.</li>
</ul>
<h4>Juvenile/Child in conflict with law (JICL)</h4>
<p>Section 2 (l) of the  Juvenile Justice Act, 2000 clearly defines the term “juvenile in conflict with  law”. As per the Juvenile Act of 2000, a child who is a juvenile and has  committed an offence prior to attaining the age of eighteen is said to be a  ‘juvenile in conflict with the law’.</p>