Context & The Gist
The article addresses the persistent issue of child marriage in India, despite national commitments to eliminate it by 2030 as part of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). While national data from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) shows a decline in child marriage rates – from 47.4% in 2005-06 to 23.3% in 2019-21 – progress is uneven across states and socio-economic groups. The central argument is that tackling child marriage requires a multi-pronged approach addressing the underlying drivers of poverty, lack of education, and gender inequality, alongside effective law enforcement and awareness campaigns.
Key Arguments & Nuances
- Declining Rates, Persistent Problem: While the overall trend shows a decrease in child marriage, the issue remains prevalent, particularly in states like West Bengal, Bihar, and Tripura.
- Socio-Economic Linkages: There's a strong correlation between child marriage and socio-economic factors. Girls from poorer households and with lower levels of education are significantly more likely to be married young. This highlights that addressing poverty and promoting education are crucial to tackling the problem.
- Law Enforcement Challenges: The Prevention of Child Marriage Act, 2006, exists, but its application is infrequent, and conviction rates are low.
- Unintended Consequences of Strict Laws: Stringent laws like the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) can inadvertently push underage girls towards unsafe, unregistered healthcare options.
- Policy-Practice Gap: Even states with schemes incentivizing girls' education (like West Bengal's cash scheme) continue to have high rates of child marriage, indicating a gap between policy intention and actual implementation.
UPSC Syllabus Relevance
- GS Paper I: Indian Society: Issues relating to women, poverty, and development.
- GS Paper II: Governance: Government policies and interventions for development, issues related to the implementation of schemes.
- GS Paper III: Economy: Poverty and unemployment, inclusive growth.
Prelims Data Bank
- Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): A collection of 17 global goals designed to be achieved by 2030, including Goal 5 (Gender Equality) which directly addresses child marriage.
- National Family Health Survey (NFHS): A large-scale, multi-round survey conducted in India that provides estimates of various health and family welfare indicators, including child marriage rates.
- Prevention of Child Marriage Act, 2006: The primary legislation in India aimed at prohibiting child marriage.
- Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO), 2012: A law to protect children from sexual abuse and exploitation.
- Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP): A government scheme launched in 2015 to address declining child sex ratio and empower girls through education.
Mains Critical Analysis
The issue of child marriage in India presents a complex web of challenges. A PESTLE analysis can help understand the various dimensions:
- Political: Government commitment to SDGs and implementation of schemes like BBBP, but inconsistent enforcement of laws.
- Economic: Poverty is a major driver, forcing families to marry off daughters to reduce economic burden.
- Social: Deep-rooted patriarchal norms and social acceptance of child marriage in certain communities.
- Technological: Potential for using technology for awareness campaigns and monitoring, but digital divide can limit reach.
- Legal: The Prevention of Child Marriage Act needs more effective implementation and higher conviction rates.
- Environmental: Indirectly linked through factors like climate change exacerbating poverty and vulnerability.
The core issue is the disparity between policy and practice. While laws and schemes exist, their effectiveness is hampered by weak enforcement, social norms, and lack of access to education and economic opportunities. The low conviction rates under the Prevention of Child Marriage Act signal a systemic failure in addressing the issue. A critical gap lies in the lack of holistic approach that integrates education, healthcare, economic empowerment, and legal enforcement.
Value Addition
- National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR): Plays a crucial role in monitoring and advocating for child rights, including the prevention of child marriage.
- Girls Not Brides: A global partnership committed to ending child marriage.
- SC Judgments: The Supreme Court has consistently emphasized the need to protect children's rights and has issued directions to prevent child marriage.
- Quote: "An investment in a girl’s education is an investment in the future of a nation." – Malala Yousafzai.
Context & Linkages
India’s TB successes — and the long road ahead
Date: November 2025Both articles highlight the challenge of translating national-level commitments and policy initiatives into tangible on-ground results. The TB article demonstrates that despite significant progress in reducing incidence and mortality, India is unlikely to meet its elimination targets. Similarly, the child marriage article points out that while rates are declining, the country is off-track to achieve the SDG goal of ending child marriage by 2030. Both articles underscore the importance of addressing systemic issues, improving implementation, and focusing on vulnerable populations to achieve desired outcomes.
Read full analysis here!
The Way Forward
- Strengthen Law Enforcement: Increase the effective implementation of the Prevention of Child Marriage Act and ensure higher conviction rates.
- Address Socio-Economic Drivers: Implement targeted interventions to reduce poverty and improve access to education, particularly for girls.
- Awareness Campaigns: Conduct comprehensive awareness campaigns to challenge social norms and promote the importance of education and delaying marriage.
- Empower Local Communities: Involve local communities and civil society organizations in the prevention and reporting of child marriages.
- Improve Data Collection & Monitoring: Enhance data collection and monitoring mechanisms to track progress and identify areas requiring greater attention.
- Integrate Services: Provide integrated services that address the health, education, and economic needs of adolescent girls.