Determination of adoptive mother in certain cases
Chapter 2: Adoption
(1)Where a Hindu who has a wife living adopts a child, she shall be deemed to be the adoptive mother.
(2) Where an adoption has been made with the consent of more than one wife, the seniormost in marriage among them shall be deemed to be the adoptive mother and the others to be step-mothers.
(3) Where a widower or a bachelor adopts a child, any wife whom he subsequently marries shall be deemed to be the step-mother of the adopted child.
(4) Where a window or an unmarried woman adopts a child, any husband whom she marries subsequently shall be deemed to be the step-father of the adopted child.
The Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act, 1956 (Act No. 78 of 1956). From the updated text on India Code, with later amendments. Being checked against the official copy; amendment notes are not shown yet.