In India, the legal age for marriage is 18 years old for both girls and boys. However, there are still many parts of India where child marriage is prevalent, where girls may be as young as 8 or 9 years old at the time of marriage.
This is largely due to cultural and religious reasons, and is especially common among rural and tribal communities. In many areas, child marriage is also considered a form of protection for girls, as it helps to protect them from exploitation, poverty and stigma.
Despite the legal age for marriage set at 18, recent legislation has made the practice of child marriage a punishable offence. However, with enforcement mainly up to the states, there are still many reports of underage unions throughout the country.
How old do kids get married in India?
In India, the legal age for marriage is 18 for both men and women. However, some states permit the marriage of girls below 18 in certain circumstances. For example, according to the Special Marriage Act of 1954, a girl aged from 15-18 can marry with the consent of her parents.
Also, according to the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, a girl aged 16-18 can marry with the permission of a district court. However, it is always recommended that the legal minimum age and all other regulations should be followed to avoid any legal consequences.
Is child marriage normal in India?
No, child marriage is not normal in India. According to UNICEF, the number of child marriages in India is one of the highest in the world. In India, the legal age for marriage is 18 for females and 21 for males.
However, there are many cases of girls below 18 years of age being married, and in some cases even below the age of fifteen.
Child marriages in India are often linked to poverty, social norms, and traditional customs in some communities. They mainly take place in rural areas and especially among the illiterate and poor, who have no other option for financial stability.
Most often, these marriages are arranged within the same caste or between families for economic gains. Furthermore, child marriages are associated with a range of social problems, such as illiteracy and gender inequality.
These problems further put the girls at risk of domestic violence.
In India, the practice of child marriage has been outlawed under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act of 2006. The law defines the minimum age of marriage for women as 18 years and 21 years for men.
It also states that any marriage which is performed below this age is illegal and can be punishable. Furthermore, the government has taken other measures such as launching campaigns to raise awareness and encouraging people to end the practice of child marriage in India.
Who is the youngest child bride in India?
The youngest child bride in India is Anupama, a 12-year-old girl from India’s eastern state of Jharkhand. In April 2017, she was forcibly married to a 15-year-old man, despite reports of the bride’s family trying to save her from this early marriage.
According to the India Express, Anupama was promised in marriage at the age of 8 and despite her family’s objections, was moved away from home to a new village two hours away. When she was 12 years old, her family decided it was time for her to marry and the marriage was arranged for her.
Anupama is not the only victim of child marriage, according to UNICEF, 20 percent of girls in India are married before they turn 18. Additionally, 47 per cent of girls are married by the time they turn 18, and 10 per cent of girls are married before they turn 15 in India.
Although, child marriage is illegal in India, it is still a major issue on the subcontinent, because of misconceptions and poor socio-economic conditions. Steps have been taken to change the issue, but it is still too common due to the lack of poverty and awareness.
Which religion has highest child marriage in India?
According to data collected by the Census 2011, the religion with the highest rate of child marriage in India is Hinduism. With around 47 percent of Indian women between the ages of 20-24 having been married before reaching the legal age of 18, Hinduism accounts for the largest proportion of child marriages.
Islam is the second most prevalent religion and accounts for around 24 percent of child marriages, followed by Christian and Sikh religions which each account for around 15 percent. Despite the prevalence of child marriage in India, there has been some improvement over the last few decades due to awareness campaigns and legal measures.
In 2006, India passed the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act which criminalized marrying, or even assisting in marrying, a child under the age of 18. Additionally, since 2005, the minimum age of all citizens was permanently fixed at 18 and any marriage below this age was deemed illegal.