India Launches Campaign to Eliminate Child Marriage by 2030

The Government of India launched the Child Marriage Free India campaign in 2024 as part of a broader effort to eliminate child marriage by 2030. India currently accounts for one in three child brides globally, with approximately one in five young women married before the age of 18. While prevalence has dropped from over 50% in 1996 to just over 20% today, experts note that national averages hide severe regional disparities.

More than half of the country's child marriages are concentrated in five states: Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh. In contrast, Kerala and Lakshadweep have shown more significant progress in reducing the practice. To combat the issue, the government utilizes legal frameworks such as the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023, the latter of which classifies sexual acts with a wife under 18 as rape.

UNICEF and other child rights organizations argue that poverty remains a primary driver, as poor families often marry off daughters early due to an inability to provide for them. Advocates emphasize that breaking these cycles requires sustained investment in education, health, and nutrition to ensure girls remain in school and maintain their agency throughout adolescence.