Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs) are a Centrally Sponsored Scheme launched in October 2019 to expedite trials of rape and POCSO Act cases. The scheme includes dedicated exclusive POCSO courts (ePOCSO). Initially approved for one year, it has been extended multiple times. As of the latest PIB release, 761 FTSCs including 411 ePOCSO courts are operational across 30 states and UTs. The scheme is jointly funded by the Centre and states in a 60:40 ratio.

India's criminal justice system has historically struggled with pendency — lakhs of cases involving heinous crimes like rape and child sexual abuse languish for years in overburdened district courts. The FTSCs scheme was a direct legislative and administrative response to this crisis, accelerating after the Justice Verma Committee recommendations post-Nirbhaya (2012) and the nationwide outrage following subsequent high-profile cases.

The POCSO Act 2012 mandates speedy trials, ideally within one year, but ordinary courts rarely meet this standard. ePOCSO courts are designed exclusively for Protection of Children from Sexual Offences cases, enabling specialised judicial attention and child-friendly infrastructure including screens, separate entry points, and support persons.

The scheme's funding model — 60% Centre, 40% states — makes it a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS), not a Central Sector Scheme, which is a crucial distinction for exam purposes. States must create posts of judges and support staff from existing High Court sanctioned strength wherever possible.

From an exam angle, FTSCs sit at the intersection of judicial reform, child protection law, federalism (CSS architecture), and criminal justice pendency. The UPSC often uses this topic to test whether students can distinguish between scheme types, identify correct statutory linkages (POCSO Act sections, IPC sections on rape), and evaluate the scheme's outcomes. CLAT PG passages frequently reproduce MHA or PIB press releases and ask candidates to apply stated legal principles to hypothetical scenarios.