Marriage is a sacred institution that is deeply rooted in Indian culture and tradition. However, the legal age for marriage in India has been a topic of much debate and discussion in recent years. In 2023, the legal age for marriage in India is still a contentious issue, with proponents of different viewpoints offering varying opinions and solutions.
The current legal age for marriage in India is 18 years for females and 21 years for males, as per the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act (PCMA) of 2006. This law was introduced to prevent child marriage, which is a common practice in many parts of the country. Child marriage is not only a violation of children’s rights but also poses a significant risk to their health and well-being.
Despite the PCMA, child marriage continues to be prevalent in many parts of India, especially in rural areas. The National Family Health Survey (NFHS) 2019-20 revealed that 27.9% of women aged 20-24 years were married before the age of 18 years, while 2.3% of men aged 25-29 years were married before the age of 21 years.
There have been calls to increase the legal age for marriage in India to 21 years for both males and females. Supporters of this proposal argue that raising the minimum age for marriage would help to prevent child marriage, reduce the risk of maternal and infant mortality, and improve the overall health and well-being of women and children.
However, opponents of this proposal argue that raising the legal age for marriage would be impractical and would interfere with the cultural traditions and customs of many communities in India. They argue that marriage is a personal choice and that the government should not dictate when people should get married.
In addition to the debate on the legal age for marriage, there are also concerns about the enforcement of existing laws against child marriage. Despite the PCMA, child marriage continues to be a prevalent issue in many parts of India, with many families resorting to marrying off their children in secret to avoid legal consequences.
To address this issue, the Indian government has launched several initiatives to prevent child marriage, such as the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (Save the Girl Child, Educate the Girl Child) campaign and the Childline 1098 service. These initiatives aim to raise awareness about the harmful effects of child marriage and provide support to vulnerable children and families.
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In conclusion, the legal age for marriage in India continues to be a contentious issue in 2023, with proponents of different viewpoints offering varying opinions and solutions. While raising the legal age for marriage may help to prevent child marriage and improve the overall health and well-being of women and children, it may also interfere with cultural traditions and customs. Ultimately, the Indian government must balance the need to protect children’s rights with the need to respect cultural traditions and customs.
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