Examine the utilisation of the Nirbhaya Fund in strengthening women's safety infrastructure in India, with reference to Fast Track Special Courts.

Q. Examine the utilisation of the Nirbhaya Fund in strengthening women's safety infrastructure in India, with reference to Fast Track Special Courts. (15 marks, 250 words)

Created after the December 2012 Delhi gang-rape case, the Nirbhaya Fund is a non-lapsable corpus for women's safety, administered by the Department of Economic Affairs [3]. Its channelling into Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs) shows how dedicated financing can operationalise the right to speedy trial for survivors of sexual violence.

Design and funding mechanism - Centrally Sponsored Scheme launched October 2019, flowing from the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2018 and SC Suo Motu Writ (Criminal) No.1/2019 [3]. - 2023 extension (FY2023–26) outlay ₹1,952.23 crore; Central share ₹1,207.24 crore met from the Nirbhaya Fund [1][2]. - Targets timely disposal of rape and POCSO Act, 2012 cases, with exclusive e-POCSO courts as a subset [1].

Achievements - 775 FTSCs (398 e-POCSO) functional across 29 States/UTs (April 2026) [1]. - Cumulative disposal of 3,34,213 cases since inception, reducing pendency and secondary victimisation of child survivors [4].

Gaps in utilisation - Target revised down from 1,023 to 790 courts; establishment still short and uneven across States [1][2]. - Reliance on States to identify judges, buildings and staff creates federal-coordination bottlenecks, reflected in repeated "temporary extensions" (now to 30.09.2026) [1].

FTSCs demonstrate the Nirbhaya Fund's potential to convert budgetary earmarking into justice-delivery infrastructure. Full outcomes now demand faster State-level absorption of funds, adequate staffing and outcome-based monitoring—advancing SDG 5 (gender equality) and SDG 16 (access to justice).

(~250 words)

Sources: 1. Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs), PIB — 775 FTSCs/398 e-POCSO functional, current extension, revised 790 target 2. Cabinet approves continuation of FTSC scheme for three years, PIB — ₹1,952.23 crore outlay, Central share, original 1,023 target 3. Scheme of Fast Track Special Courts, PIB — Nirbhaya Fund basis, Criminal Law (Amendment) Act 2018, SC writ, POCSO 4. Swift Justice, Safer Society: Impact of Fast Track Special Courts, PIB — cumulative case disposal since inception