Context:
India has made notable progress in reducing child marriage, but the decline remains uneven across States and socio-economic groups. The first anniversary of the Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat Abhiyan has renewed focus on eliminating this harmful practice, which remains a major barrier to gender equality, education, and social justice.
Key Highlights:
Government Campaign & Recent Developments:
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The Union government marked the first anniversary of the Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat Abhiyan with a 100-day awareness campaign.
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Since the Abhiyan began, around 1,520 child marriages have been prevented, showing impact of targeted interventions.
Global and National Burden:
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UNICEF estimated that 64 crore girls globally were married in childhood by 2023.
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One-third of these cases are in India, underlining India’s central role in global elimination efforts.
Trends in India (NFHS Data):
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Child marriage prevalence declined from:
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47.4% (NFHS-3, 2005–06)
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to 23.3% (NFHS-5, 2019–21)
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Despite improvement, several States continue to record high rates.
State-Level Variations:
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Highest child marriage rates:
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West Bengal – 42%
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Bihar – 40%
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Tripura – 39%
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Indicates persistence of entrenched social norms and weak enforcement.
Socio-Economic Drivers:
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Child marriage is strongly linked to:
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Low education
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Poverty and inequality
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Rates are highest among:
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Girls with no education – 48%
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Families in the lowest wealth quintile – 40%
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Legal Framework and Policy Tools:
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Key legislations contributing to decline:
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Prohibition of Child Marriage Act (PCMA), 2006
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POCSO Act, 2012 (protecting children from sexual offences)
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Schemes like Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) aim to promote girl child education and empowerment, though implementation has been inconsistent.
Debate on Raising Marriage Age:
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Proposal to raise minimum marriage age for women from 18 to 21 years.
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Concerns include:
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Over-criminalisation of communities
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Need for social reform rather than punitive enforcement alone.
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SDG Linkages:
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SDG Target 5.3 aims to eliminate child marriage by 2030.
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Reducing child marriage is essential for progress on at least nine SDGs, including:
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Poverty reduction
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Food security
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Education
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Gender equality
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Relevant Prelims Points:
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Child Marriage: Marriage before age 18.
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SDG 5.3: Eliminate harmful practices like child marriage.
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Key Laws: PCMA 2006, POCSO 2012.
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Key Scheme: Beti Bachao Beti Padhao.
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NFHS Trend: Decline from 47.4% to 23.3%.
Relevant Mains Points:
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Keywords & Concepts:
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Gender Justice, Social Reform, Human Capital Development, Harmful Practices
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Challenges:
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Deep-rooted patriarchy
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Poverty-driven decisions
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Educational dropouts
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Way Forward:
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Strengthen girls’ secondary education access
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Community-based awareness and behavioural change
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Economic support for vulnerable families
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Balanced enforcement with social empowerment
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UPSC Relevance (GS-wise):
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GS 1: Indian society, social issues, gender norms
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GS 2: Social justice, welfare schemes, child rights
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Prelims: Child marriage laws, SDG targets