Reference Article: Editorial | The Hindu – Social scourge: On India and child marriages
UPSC Relevance
GS Paper II – Social Justice, Vulnerable Sections, Government Policies and Interventions
GS Paper I – Indian Society, Women, Poverty, Education and Social Issues
India has committed to eliminating child marriage by 2030 under the Sustainable Development Goals. Recent initiatives such as the Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat Abhiyan and a 100-day awareness campaign reflect renewed political focus. Data show notable progress:
- Child marriage among women declined from 47.4% (2005–06) to 23.3% (2019–21) (NFHS).
- This indicates sustained improvement over nearly two decades.
However, given India’s vast population and diversity, progress remains uneven across States and communities.
Regional and Socio-Economic Disparities
- Highest prevalence among women aged 18–29: West Bengal, Bihar, Tripura
- Other high-incidence States: Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan
- Strong correlation with poverty and education:
- 40% of girls from the poorest households married before 18 vs 8% from the richest
- 48% of girls with no education married early vs 4% with higher education
This underlines that child marriage is deeply rooted in structural deprivation rather than cultural preference alone.
Legal Framework and Its Limitations
- The Prevention of Child Marriage Act, 2006 is the primary law, but:
- NCRB data show low enforcement and conviction rates
- Use of stringent laws such as POCSO has produced unintended consequences:
- Fear of criminalisation pushes adolescents towards unsafe, informal practices
- This exacerbates health risks instead of protecting girls
Policy Paradoxes and Implementation Gaps
- States like West Bengal, despite education-linked cash incentives, continue to show high child marriage rates
- Welfare schemes alone cannot offset:
- Poverty
- School dropouts
- Lack of sanitation, safe transport and secondary education infrastructure
The Beti Bachao Beti Padhao campaign must better target the most vulnerable communities and address these structural barriers.
Broader Development Implications
According to Girls Not Brides, ending child marriage is essential to achieving at least 9 of the 17 SDGs. Child marriage perpetuates:
- Poor maternal and child health
- Gender inequality
- Intergenerational poverty
Conclusion
While India has made measurable progress, eliminating child marriage by 2030 requires moving beyond awareness and legal prohibition. Addressing poverty, expanding girls’ education, ensuring safety and health infrastructure, and adopting a sensitive, rights-based legal approach are critical to bridging the gap between policy intent and lived reality.
Sample UPSC Mains Question
Despite a decline in child marriage rates, India remains off-track to eliminate the practice by 2030. Examine the socio-economic drivers of child marriage and evaluate the limitations of current legal and policy interventions. Suggest measures to bridge the gap between policy and practice.