Child Betrothals: A Violation of Rights 2025

Context: The Supreme Court ruled that child betrothals violate basic rights of choice, autonomy, and childhood and are often a ploy to evade the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act (PCMA). What is Child Betrothal?

• A practice where families arrange marriages for children before the legal age, with the formal marriage taking place later.
• Though not legally equivalent to child marriage, it is considered a binding commitment between families.

Legal Status

• The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 sets the legal marriage age at 18 for girls and 21 for boys.
•  The law is silent on child betrothals, prompting the Supreme Court to urge Parliament for explicit prohibition.

Facts and Trends

Child Marriages Decline:

• Dropped from 47% in 2015-16 to 27% in 2019-2021.
• At-Risk Children: Over 11.5 lakh, with Uttar Pradesh accounting for 5 lakh cases.
• States with high child marriage rates: Bihar, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh (over 40% of women aged 20-24 were married before 18).

Significance : A ban on child betrothals is crucial to protect children’s rights and eliminate a pathway to child marriages.