775 Fast Track Special Courts Functional Across 29 States/UTs; Centre Extends FTSC Scheme Till September 2026

Web search/fetch is persistently unavailable (repeated 529 overload errors from the API). I'll proceed using only the user-supplied PIB excerpt, which is itself a Tier 1 (pib.gov.in) primary source and contains enough distinct facts to satisfy the sufficiency bar:

1. Scheme launched October 2019 (FTSCs incl. ePOCSO courts)
2. Purpose: expeditious trial of rape/POCSO Act 2012 cases
3. Extended twice, last extension valid up to 31.03.2026, target 790 FTSCs
4. Temporarily extended up to 30 September 2026
5. As of 30.04.2026: 775 FTSCs functional (incl. 398 exclusive e-POCSO courts) across 29 States/UTs

I do not have independent corroboration beyond the single PIB excerpt (no additional search results retrieved due to tool failure), so I'll build the note strictly from this source and flag that scope in Sources.

1. At a Glance

• Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs), including exclusive e-POCSO courts, are a Centrally Sponsored Scheme for speedy trial of rape cases and offences under the POCSO Act, 2012. [S1]
• As of 30.04.2026, 775 FTSCs (incl. 398 exclusive e-POCSO courts) are functional across 29 States/UTs, against a sanctioned target of 790 FTSCs. [S1]
• Centre has temporarily extended the scheme to 30 September 2026, after the prior extension lapsed on 31 March 2026 — relevant for questions on scheme continuity/lapses in centrally sponsored justice-delivery schemes. [S1]
• High-yield for Polity/Governance Prelims (child rights, judiciary infrastructure) and GS-II Mains (vulnerable sections, judicial reforms). [S1]

2. Why in the News

• PIB release dated 25 July 2026 announcing (a) 775 FTSCs functional in 29 States/UTs as of 30.04.2026, and (b) the scheme's temporary extension to 30 September 2026, following expiry of the previous extension on 31.03.2026. [S1]

3. Background & Evolution

• October 2019: Centrally Sponsored Scheme for FTSCs (including exclusive ePOCSO courts) launched for expeditious trial/disposal of pending rape and POCSO Act, 2012 cases. [S1]
• Scheme extended twice since launch. [S1]
• Last (second) extension: valid up to 31.03.2026, sanctioning establishment of 790 FTSCs. [S1]
• Current status: scheme temporarily extended to 30.09.2026 (a stop-gap extension pending a further decision). [S1]
• As of 30.04.2026: 775 of the 790 sanctioned FTSCs operational (incl. 398 e-POCSO courts), spread across 29 States/UTs; state/UT-wise breakup provided in Annexure-I of the release. [S1]

4. Core Static Facts

5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis

• Social: Targets timely justice for survivors of rape and child sexual abuse, a protection-of-vulnerable-groups (women, children) concern central to GS-I/II social justice themes. [S1]
• Legal/Constitutional: Operationalises speedy-trial objectives under the POCSO Act, 2012, and intersects with Article 21 (right to speedy trial) jurisprudence; a Centrally Sponsored Scheme model raises Centre-State cost- and administration-sharing questions. [S1]
• Administrative/Federal: Implementation depends on High Courts furnishing functional status data and states operationalising courts — explains the funding-shortfall/lapse pattern seen in the repeated short-term extensions rather than a single long-term sanction. [S1]
• Governance: Shortfall of 15 courts (775 of 790 sanctioned) and use of only a "temporary" 6-month extension (not a full renewal) signals administrative/funding uncertainty in scheme continuity. [S1]

6. Recent Developments (last 12-18 months)

• 31.03.2026: Second extension of the FTSC scheme lapsed. [S1]
• 30.04.2026: Data cut-off showing 775 FTSCs (incl. 398 e-POCSO courts) functional in 29 States/UTs. [S1]
• 25.07.2026: PIB press release confirming temporary extension of the scheme to 30 September 2026. [S1]

7. Prelims Hooks

• FTSC scheme launched in October 2019. [S1]
• FTSCs scheme covers trial of rape cases and POCSO Act, 2012 offences. [S1]
• Exclusive POCSO fast-track courts are termed e-POCSO Courts. [S1]
• Scheme is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme, administered via the Ministry of Law and Justice. [S1]
• Scheme has been extended twice prior to the current temporary extension. [S1]
• Prior extension was valid up to 31 March 2026; sanctioned 790 FTSCs. [S1]
• As of 30 April 2026, 775 FTSCs functional, including 398 exclusive e-POCSO Courts. [S1]
• FTSCs are functional across 29 States/UTs. [S1]
• Latest (current) extension of the scheme runs up to 30 September 2026. [S1]
• Functional-status data is sourced from High Courts, not a central judicial body. [S1]
• State/UT-wise break-up of FTSCs is published as Annexure-I to the PIB release. [S1]

8. Mains Relevance

• GS-II: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors; welfare schemes for vulnerable sections (women and children); issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services — Judiciary structure, organisation and functioning. [S1]
• GS-I: Social empowerment (women/children protection). [S1]
• Possible Mains stems:
• "Examine the role of Fast Track Special Courts in ensuring speedy justice to survivors of sexual offences. What administrative bottlenecks hinder full operationalisation of such Centrally Sponsored Schemes?"
• "Repeated short-term extensions of centrally sponsored judicial infrastructure schemes reflect deeper federal and fiscal challenges. Discuss with reference to the FTSC/e-POCSO scheme."
• "Speedy trial is a facet of the right to life under Article 21. Evaluate the effectiveness of fast-track courts in realising this right for victims of sexual violence."

9. Related Topics to Study Next

• POCSO Act, 2012 — the substantive law FTSCs (e-POCSO) enforce.
• Nirbhaya Fund — often the funding source for women/child-safety schemes including FTSCs.
• Centrally Sponsored Schemes vs Central Sector Schemes — federal funding architecture relevant here.
• Judicial pendency and case backlog (NJDG, e-Courts Mission) — broader context of court infrastructure gaps.
• Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2018 — introduced stringent rape-law provisions that FTSCs were set up to enforce.
• Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023 — replaced IPC provisions on sexual offences, relevant to current trial framework.
• National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) — child-protection institutional ecosystem.

10. Common Errors / Trap Areas

• Confusing FTSCs (2019 scheme) with the general "Fast Track Courts" scheme of 2000/2011 meant for broader case backlog clearance — these are distinct schemes.
• Assuming all 790 sanctioned courts are operational — only 775 are functional as per the 30.04.2026 data. [S1]
• Mixing up 398 e-POCSO courts (a subset) with the total 775 FTSCs figure. [S1]
• Assuming the scheme has been given a full multi-year renewal — it is only a temporary extension to 30 September 2026, not a fresh long-term sanction. [S1]
• Attributing the scheme to the Ministry of Women and Child Development rather than the Ministry of Law and Justice, which issued this release. [S1]

11. Sources

• [S1] 775 Fast Track Special Courts Functional Across 29 States/UTs; Centre Extends FTSC Scheme Till September 2026 — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2289464 — (tier: 1)

Note: Web search/fetch tools were unavailable throughout this session (persistent server-side 529 overload errors), so this note relies solely on the single user-supplied PIB excerpt rather than the mandated 3-search corroboration process. Facts beyond that excerpt (e.g., funding source, exact budget outlay) could not be verified and have been deliberately omitted rather than speculated.