As per the provisions of the Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act, 1956, a bachelor male adopts a child.…

The woman is deemed to be the stepmother of the adopted child. Section 14(3) of the Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act, 1956, gives that status to the wife whom a bachelor or widower marries after adopting a child. Section 14(1) gives adoptive-mother status in a different situation, where a Hindu man already has a wife when he adopts.