The proposal to raise the minimum age of marriage for women from 18 to 21 was cleared by the Union Cabinet on Wednesday, according to reports.
At present, the minimum age of marriage for men is 21 but for women, it is 18. Following the Cabinet’s approval, the government will introduce an amendment to the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, and consequently bring amendments to the Special Marriage Act and personal laws such as the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955.
The proposal was based on recommendations submitted to Niti Aayog in December 2020 by the Centre’s task force, headed by Jaya Jaitly. The task force which was set up in June last year, also included NITI Aayog member Dr VK Paul, senior officials of the Health Ministry and Ministry of Women and Child Development. The committee was to examine “matters pertaining to the age of motherhood, imperatives of lowering MMR (maternal mortality rate), improvement of nutritional levels and related issues”, the Indian Express reported.
In his Independence Day speech last year, Modi had hinted at revising minimum age of marriage for women. "This government is constantly concerned about the health of daughters and sisters. To save the daughters from malnutrition, it is necessary that they're married at the right age," he had said.