Underage Marriage in India: An Analysis of the SRS 2023 Report
UPSC Relevance
Prelims: Social Development, Women's Issues, Demographics, Key Legislations (Prohibition of Child Marriage Act), Important Reports (SRS).
Mains:
General Studies Paper 1 (Society): Salient features of Indian Society; Role of women and women's organization; Social empowerment; Population and associated issues.
General Studies Paper 2 (Social Justice & Governance): Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population; Mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections. Child marriage is a core topic in both GS1 and GS2.
Key Highlights from the News
Sample Registration System (SRS) statistical report for 2023 states that West Bengal has the highest number of women getting married before the age of 18 in India.
In West Bengal, this rate is 6.3%, which is almost three times the national rate of 2.1%.
Jharkhand is second on this list (4.6%). Kerala has the lowest rate (0.1%).
West Bengal leads in both rural and urban areas. It is noteworthy that the rate in urban areas of West Bengal is higher than in rural areas (7.6%).
These figures are released by the Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner.
These figures clearly indicate that child marriage, though illegal in India, continues to be a major social evil in many states.
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