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Child Marriage in India and How to Stop It

About one in five young Indian women married before 18 in 2023-24, says NFHS-6. Child marriage is illegal. Here is the law and how to report it.

The Pushpa Narendra Foundation

Published · Updated · 5 min read

A girl smiling among women and children in a rural Indian community at golden hour.

Child marriage is illegal in India: a marriage is a child marriage if the girl is under 18 or the boy under 21. NFHS-6 (2023-24) found that 20.1 per cent of women aged 20 to 24 were married before 18, down from 23.3 per cent in NFHS-5. To report a planned one, call Childline 1098 or 112.

What does the law say?

The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 defines a child as a girl under 18 or a boy under 21. Any marriage in which either party is a child is a child marriage. Its offences are cognizable and non-bailable. An adult man who marries a child, and anyone who solemnises, abets or promotes the marriage, including parents and guardians, can face up to two years of rigorous imprisonment, a fine of up to Rs 1 lakh (Rs 100,000), or both.

Such a marriage is voidable at the option of the child party, who can petition the district court within two years of reaching adulthood. It is void in cases of trafficking, force or deceit. Magistrates can issue injunctions to stop a marriage that is about to happen. States appoint Child Marriage Prohibition Officers (CMPOs) to prevent child marriages and gather evidence.

How common is child marriage in India today?

The Health Ministry released the NFHS-6 fact sheets on 29 May 2026. The share of women aged 20 to 24 married before 18 fell from 47.4 per cent in NFHS-3 (2005-06) to 26.8 per cent in NFHS-4, 23.3 per cent in NFHS-5 (2019-21) and 20.1 per cent in NFHS-6. In rural areas it was 23.3 per cent. Among men aged 25 to 29, 15.9 per cent were married before 21.

Police counts measure something else: cases registered, which depend on reporting and enforcement. The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) recorded 1,499 cases under the Act in 2024, against 6,038 in 2023 and 1,002 in 2022.

How does child marriage affect girls?

A PIB backgrounder on the national campaign says child marriage exposes girls to serious health risks, especially from early pregnancy, raises their vulnerability to domestic violence and feeds cycles of poverty. The Supreme Court observed that it takes away a child's choice and childhood and, for many women, ends their education.

What did the Supreme Court say in 2024?

On 18 October 2024, in Society for Enlightenment and Voluntary Action v. Union of India (Writ Petition (Civil) No. 1234 of 2017), a three-judge bench led by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud issued guidelines to prevent child marriage. The Court said enforcement should not focus only on more prosecutions and must also make every effort to prevent and prohibit child marriages.

The directions include dedicated CMPOs in every district, awareness in schools and panchayats, training for teachers, health workers and police, scholarships and other support for girls at risk, and a Child Marriage Free Village initiative. Childline 1098 and Women Helpline 181 must be displayed prominently in schools, panchayats and local institutions. The Court also suggested that Parliament consider outlawing child betrothals.

What is Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat?

The Ministry of Women and Child Development launched the national Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat campaign on 27 November 2024. A January 2026 PIB backgrounder says it aims to make India child-marriage-free by 2030. The campaign portal, stopchildmarriage.wcd.gov.in, lists CMPOs and lets citizens report child marriages. A 100-day awareness drive ran from 27 November 2025 to 8 March 2026.

How do I report a planned child marriage?

  • Call Childline 1098, the child helpline run by the Ministry of Women and Child Development. The Home Ministry told Parliament in February 2026 that it operates 24 hours a day.
  • Call 112, India's single emergency number, which passes calls to police, health, fire, women and child helpline services.
  • Use the Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat portal, or contact the district CMPO or your local police.

How TPNF is involved

TPNF does not run rescue operations or enforce the law. Reports belong with Childline, the police or the district CMPO. Through programmes such as Udaan (life-skills and puberty education in schools) and Prajna (education for underprivileged girls), we work on keeping girls in school and informed, which the Supreme Court's guidelines also stress. Read more on the education page, or volunteer and give through Get involved.

Frequently asked questions

Under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, it is 18 for women and 21 for men.

Can someone married as a child have the marriage cancelled?

The child party can petition the district court within two years of reaching adulthood. A marriage obtained through trafficking, force or deceit is void.

Did the 2024 Supreme Court judgment change the age of marriage?

No. It issued guidelines on prevention and enforcement. The ages in the Act are unchanged.

This is general information, not legal advice.

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The Pushpa Narendra Foundation

When a young girl drops out of school due to period poverty or unmanaged anemia, her potential is locked away long before her adulthood begins. At The Pushpa Narendra Foundation (TPNF), we believe education and health cannot exist in isolation.

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