BCCI modifies age verification procedure; allows 2nd "Bone test"

What is the Bone Age Test?

The Bone Age Test (or skeletal age assessment) is a medical procedure used to estimate a person's biological age based on the maturity of their bones, usually through X-rays of the left hand, wrist, and fingers.

• It compares bone development to standard growth charts (e.g., Greulich and Pyle Atlas or Tanner-Whitehouse method).

• Common in forensic, legal, and medical contexts—especially when birth records are unavailable or disputed.

Feature	Details
Purpose	To estimate age biologically (not chronologically)
Method	X-ray imaging (left hand/wrist)
Tools used	Greulich & Pyle Atlas, Tanner-Whitehouse method
Usage areas	Forensics, sports trials, juvenile justice, medical diagnosis
Reliability	±1 to 2 years (varies with nutrition, ethnicity, socio-economic factors)

Mains Perspective (GS Paper 2 & 3)

 Legal and Ethical Issues

• Used in Juvenile Justice Act (JJA), 2015 cases to determine if an accused is a minor or adult.

• However, courts have noted its inexact nature, making it a secondary evidence.

• Example: Jarnail Singh vs State of Haryana (2013) – Supreme Court ruled medical tests including bone age should be used only if documentary proof is absent.

 Application in Sports & Identity

• Used in age-fraud detection in sports (e.g., under-17 cricket/football).

• Can be misused or produce incorrect results due to nutrition, genetics, and socioeconomic status.

Forensic and Medical Relevance

• Helps in identifying unknown dead bodies, assessing growth disorders, or in cases involving child trafficking.

• Important in public health programmes involving children’s growth and development.

Limitations & Challenges

• Accuracy affected by:

  • Nutrition

  • Chronic illness

  • Ethnic variation

  • Socio-economic differences

• Not definitive: Courts rely more on school records, Aadhaar, or birth certificates.

• Bone age ≠ chronological age: biological maturity may differ by ±2 years.