The publication ‘Children in India 2012 – A Statistical Appraisal’, analyses the conditions of children in the fields of child survival, child development and child protection. The publication includes an introductory chapter which addresses the issues of definition of child in various contexts, constitutional and legal provisions for children and the important policies and programmes targeted at children. The publication contains chapters on demographic particulars, and status of child nutrition, health and education, children at work and in situations of crime. The highlights of the report are presented separately.