Despite being legally prohibited, child marriage remains prevalent in India, posing severe risks to young girls, including health complications, gender inequality, and a continuation of poverty cycles.
- The Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat (BVMB) initiative, launched in 2024, seeks to eradicate child marriages nationwide, promoting a child marriage-free India.
What is Child Marriage?
- Legal Definition: Child marriage is defined as any union where a female is under 18 and a male under 21 years.
- It is legally recognized as child rape in India under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
- Health and Social Risks: Child marriage exposes young girls to health risks, including early pregnancies, domestic violence, and perpetuates poverty and gender inequality.
- Current Statistics: According to NFHS-5 (2019–21), 23% of women aged 20-24 were married before 18, with states like West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar having the highest incidences.
India’s Legal Framework Against Child Marriage
- Historical Efforts: India’s fight against child marriage dates back to the 19th century, with reformers like Raja Rammohan Roy, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar and Jyotirao Phule driving legislative changes.
- Age of Consent Act, 1891: First legal attempt to address early marriage.
- Child Marriage Restraint Act (Sarda Act), 1929: Set minimum marriage age at 14 for girls and 18 for boys.
- Amendments (1948 & 1978): Raised the age to 18 for girls and 21 for boys.
- Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 (PCMA): The PCMA replaced the Child Marriage Restraint Act, 1929 and criminalizes child marriage, making it voidable (void in cases of force, trafficking, or deceit) by the child and setting penalties for offenders, including rigorous imprisonment and fines.
- Child Marriage Prohibition Officers (CMPOs): States appoint CMPOs to prevent and report child marriages, ensuring legal compliance.
- Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023: Sexual relations with a wife below 18 years are considered rape.
- POCSO Act, 2012: Treats sexual assault within child marriage as aggravated penetrative sexual assault.
Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat (BVMB) Initiative
- Launch: Launched on November 27, 2024, BVMB aims to eliminate child marriages and aligns with SDG 5.3, targeting the elimination of harmful practices like child marriage by 2030.
- Legal Mandate: Supported by the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, the initiative is grounded in India’s constitutional rights under Article 21 (right to life and liberty).
- Comprehensive Framework: The Supreme Court, in a 2024 ruling, directed states to strengthen enforcement by appointing dedicated CMPOs, establishing Special Child Marriage Prohibition Units, and conducting multi-sectoral awareness campaigns.
The 100-Day Campaign: A Momentum-Building Drive
- Special Drive: The 100-day campaign, launched in December, 2025, focuses on outreach and prevention of child marriages, dedicating each month to a specific thematic focus.
- Prestigious Awards:
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- Child Marriage-Free Village Certificate for villages that successfully eliminate child marriages.
- Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat Yodha Award for top-performing districts, recognizing efforts in prevention and reporting.
Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat Portal
- Centralized Platform: The BVMB portal provides access to a centralized database listing Child Marriage Prohibition Officers (CMPOs) and enabling real-time reporting of child marriage cases.
- Tracking and Awareness: It tracks the effectiveness of awareness campaigns and actions taken by stakeholders.
Progress and Achievements
- Enforcement and Awareness: The BVMB mission has made significant strides in curbing child marriages, with CMPOs conducting door-to-door awareness and establishing “no-child-marriage zones” in several regions.
- International Support: UNICEF has endorsed the initiative, providing technical support and conducting capacity-building workshops for CMPOs.
- Child Marriage-Free Milestones:
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- Balod district in Chhattisgarh became India’s first child marriage-free district, with zero cases for two consecutive years.
- Surajpur district declared 75 village panchayats as “Child Marriage-Free”, a notable achievement in community awareness.
9 Jan 2026
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