Bone Ossification Test

Table of Contents

What is Bone Ossification Test ?

It is a medical procedure that analyses bones in order to determine age.
It involves taking X-rays of certain bones in the body, such as the clavicle, sternum and pelvis to assess skeletal development.
The results are compared to standard growth benchmarks to estimate age.
These bones are chosen because they tend to undergo the most dramatic changes in their form as a person ages.
Ossification is the process of bone formation that occurs in humans from infancy until the end of their adolescent stage.

In India, individuals under 18 years are considered minors. The legal system distinguishes between children and adults in terms of procedures, rehabilitation, and punishment.
Under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, minors cannot be incarcerated in adult facilities.
Instead, they are subject to rehabilitative measures overseen by a Juvenile Justice Board (JJB), which may include options such as admonition/warning or a maximum of 3 years in a specialised facility for offences.
A 2021 amendment to the JJ act mandates that for minors over the age of 16 accused of serious crimes, which carry a minimum sentence of 7 years, a preliminary evaluation of their mental and physical capacity is necessary before determining whether they should be tried as adults.