Child marriage in India

Common card · No. 280749

Child marriage in India in Indian law is a marriage in which the bride and groom both, is less than 18 years of age. Most child marriages involve girls younger than 18, many of whom are from poor families. Child marriages are prevalent in India. Estimates vary widely between sources as to the extent of child marriages. A 2015–2016 UNICEF report estimated India's child marriage rate at 27%. The Census of India has counted and reported married women by age, with proportion of females in child marriage falling in each 10 year census period since 1981. In its 2001 census report, India stated at least a few married girls below the age of 10, 1.4 million married girls out of 59.2 million girls aged 10–14, and 11.3 million married girls out of 46.3 million girls aged 15–19. Times of India reported that 'since 2001, child marriage rates in India have fallen by 46% between 2005 and 2009'. During British colonial times, the legal minimum age of marriage was set at 14 for girls and 18 for boys. Child...

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