IAS/UPSC Coaching Institute  

27 Dec 2025 : Social scourge

 Editorial 1: ​Social scourge

Context

Child marriage undermines health, disrupts education, and perpetuates poverty, leading to long-term social and economic disadvantages.

 

Introduction

India’s commitment to end child marriage by 2030, aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, reflects strong policy intent and growing awareness initiatives. Declining national figures signal progress, yet regional disparities, poverty, educational deprivation, and gender inequality continue to undermine outcomes. Bridging the gap between targets and ground realities remains a critical development challenge.

 

India’s Commitment and Policy Framework

  • India has committed to ending child marriage by 2030 under the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
  • The Union government marked one year of Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat Abhiyan with a 100-day nationwide awareness campaign.
  • Despite policy intent and multiple schemes, achieving the target remains a work in progress.

 

Trends and Progress

  • Child marriage rates have declined steadily, from 47.4% (2005–06) to 23.3% (2019–21).
  • This improvement is based on data from the National Family Health Survey.
  • However, progress is uneven across regions and social groups.

 

Regional Disparities

  • High prevalence among women aged 18–29 persists in West Bengal, Bihar, and Tripura.
  • Comparable concern exists in Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan.
  • These patterns reflect regional inequalities and local socio-economic realities.

 

Poverty and Education Linkages

  • Analysis by the United Nations Population Fund shows a strong correlation between poverty, low education, and child marriage.
  • 40% of girls from the poorest wealth quintile marry before 18, compared to 8% from the richest quintile.
  • 48% of girls with no education marry early, versus only 4% with higher education.

 

Legal Framework and Gaps

  • The Prevention of Child Marriage Act, 2006 is the primary law, but enforcement is weak, with low conviction rates.
  • Data from crime records indicate infrequent application of the law.
  • The strict use of POCSO provisions has created unintended consequences for consenting adolescents.

 

Health and Social Consequences

  • Fear of criminal prosecution pushes underage girls towards unsafe, unregulated health services.
  • Child marriage is directly linked to poor maternal and child health outcomes.
  • These risks compound existing vulnerabilities.

 

Schemes and Implementation Challenges

  • Despite incentives like cash-transfer schemes for girls’ education, States such as West Bengal still report high incidence.
  • The Centre’s Beti Bachao Beti Padhao must better reach the most vulnerable communities.
  • Supportive infrastructure—clean toilets, safe transport, and secure schools—is critical to retain girls in education.

 

Global and Developmental Implications

  • According to Girls Not Brides, 9 of the 17 SDGs cannot be achieved without ending child marriage.
  • In India, unless poverty, education gaps, health risks, and gender inequality are addressed together, the policy–practice divide will persist.

 

Conclusion

Ending child marriage in India demands more than laws and schemes. Without addressing poverty, strengthening girls’ education, improving health access, and ensuring safe infrastructure, progress will remain uneven. Stronger implementation, community engagement, and gender-sensitive governance are essential. Only by aligning policy with practice can India protect girls’ rights and achieve its SDG commitments sustainably.