law: Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act, 1956 
  14. Determination of adoptive mother in certain cases 
  (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 senior-most 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 widow 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.