New Delhi: A UNICEF report has flagged a stark statistic: one in three girls affected by child marriage worldwide is from India. Experts say the finding underlines the need for stronger, targeted action to curb the practice, especially in high-burden states.
India’s legal minimum age for marriage is 18 for women and 21 for men. While the law has helped reduce child marriage overall, the practice continues in pockets, particularly in rural areas. The Union government launched the “Child Marriage-Free India” campaign in 2024, setting a goal to eliminate child marriage by 2030.
According to the report, more than 220 million girls in India were married before turning 17, and over 90 million were pushed into marriage before the age of 15. The report also notes that more than half of India’s child marriages occur in just five states—Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.
In contrast, Kerala and Lakshadweep were cited for stronger measures to prevent child marriage. UNICEF India representative Cynthia McCaffrey said girls must be supported to live healthy and safe lives, with continued opportunities to build skills, and called for further strengthening of ongoing efforts.
CRY CEO Pooja Marwaha stressed that action must go beyond national averages and be intensified at the state level. Experts also emphasised that legal protection should reach every child, warning that child marriage harms girls’ education, employment prospects, health and even their fundamental right to live with dignity. The report gained added significance as it was released around International Day of the Girl Child.
