Child Marriages Decline in Rajasthan | 29 Sep 2025

Why in News?

Rajasthan, once regarded as a child marriage hotspot, has witnessed a dramatic decline, with cases falling by 67% among boys and 66% among girls, according to a study released at the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Key Points

  • About: 
    • The study titled “Tipping Point to Zero: Evidence Towards a Child Marriage Free India” was conducted between 2022 and 2024 in five states by Just Rights for Children (JRC), a network of over 250 child protection NGOs, in collaboration with the Rajasthan Directorate of Child Rights. The initiative was also supported by the Government of India and various civil society organisations.
    • The report highlights that awareness campaigns were the most effective tool for reducing child marriages, with 99% of respondents in Rajasthan identifying them as crucial. 
    • It also notes that 82% of respondents considered arrests and prosecutions as the second most impactful factor in deterring the practice. 
    • Despite these improvements, the study underscores that poor financial conditions (91%), cultural and traditional practices (45%), and the belief that early marriage ensures “purity” (45%) remain persistent drivers of child marriage.
  • Recommendations of the Report: The report calls for stricter enforcement of child marriage laws, better reporting mechanisms, compulsory marriage registration, and village-level awareness regarding the Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat portal. 
    • It also recommends declaring a National Day Against Child Marriage to mobilise collective action across the country.

Child Marriage

  • About: UNICEF categorises child marriage as a human rights violation due to its adverse impacts on the development of both girls and boys.
    • Sustainable Development Goal 5.3 states that Child marriage elimination is pivotal in achieving Sustainable Development Goal 5, aiming for gender equality and empowerment of women and girls by 2030.
    • According to the UN, 1 in 5 young women worldwide (19%) were married in childhood in 2022.
  • Legislative Framework: India enacted the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act in 2006, establishing the legal age for marriage at 21 for men and 18 for women.
    • Section 16 of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act allows State Governments to appoint 'Child Marriage Prohibition Officers (CMPO)' for specific areas.
    • CMPOs are responsible for preventing child marriages, collecting evidence for prosecutions, counselling against promoting or aiding such marriages, raising awareness about their harmful effects, and sensitising communities.