Introduction

Child marriage in India represents a structural intersection of poverty, gender inequality, and limited educational access. While legislative frameworks and flagship schemes exist, the practice continues in several States and socio-economic groups. The persistence of child marriage reflects a widening gap between policy intent and ground-level implementation.

Why in the News

India has reaffirmed its commitment to end child marriage by 2030 under the Sustainable Development Goals, marking the first anniversary of the Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat Abhiyan with a 100-day national awareness campaign. This renewed focus comes against the backdrop of sharp national decline in child marriage rates, from 47.4% (2005-06) to 23.3% (2019-21) but persistent regional, economic, and educational disparities highlighted by NFHS data. The issue remains critical as child marriage directly undermines outcomes in health, education, poverty reduction, and gender equality, threatening progress on at least 9 of the 17 SDGs.

Why does child marriage remain uneven despite national decline?

1. National Decline: Reflects sustained policy focus and social awareness, with child marriage nearly halved over 15 years.
2. Regional Concentration: Highest prevalence among women aged 18-29 in West Bengal, Bihar, and Tripura, with Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan close behind.
3. Demographic Variation: Indicates that national averages mask entrenched local vulnerabilities.

How are poverty and education directly linked to child marriage?

1. Economic Deprivation: 40% of girls from the lowest wealth quintile married before adulthood, compared to 8% in the highest quintile.
2. Educational Attainment: 48% of girls with no education married before 18, compared to 4% among those with higher education.
3. Intergenerational Cycle: Early marriage reinforces poverty by limiting education and economic participation.

What are the health consequences of child marriage?

1. Maternal Health: Early pregnancies increase risks of anemia, obstetric complications, and maternal mortality.
2. Child Health: Higher incidence of low birth weight, malnutrition, and infant mortality.
3. Healthcare Avoidance: Fear of legal repercussions under stringent laws pushes underage girls toward unsafe, unregulated medical practices.

Why has legal enforcement remained weak?

1. Primary Legislation: The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 serves as the flagship law.
2. Enforcement Deficit: NCRB data indicates low reporting and conviction rates, reflecting poor implementation.
3. Legal Overreach Concerns: Application of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act in consensual adolescent relationships discourages institutional healthcare access.

Why have incentive-based schemes not yielded uniform outcomes?

1. State Schemes: Cash incentives for girls’ education, such as in West Bengal, have not translated into proportional reductions.
2. Structural Gaps: Incentives fail without supportive infrastructure like clean toilets, safe transport, and school accessibility.
3. Targeting Deficit: Vulnerable and marginalised communities remain inadequately reached.

What role do national campaigns play in addressing the issue?

1. Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat Abhiyan: Focuses on awareness and social mobilisation.
2. Beti Bachao Beti Padhao: Aims to improve girl child survival, education, and empowerment.
3. Implementation Challenge: Behavioural change remains uneven without sustained community-level engagement.

Conclusion

Child marriage in India persists due to entrenched socio-economic vulnerabilities, weak enforcement, and fragmented implementation. Without simultaneous progress in poverty reduction, educational access, healthcare security, and gender equality, the gap between policy commitments and social reality will remain unbridged, undermining India’s SDG obligations.

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