The Prohibition of Child Marriage (Amendment) Bill, 2021, seeks to raise the legal marriage age for women in India from 18 to 21 years. Introduced in the Lok Sabha by Union Minister Smriti Irani, the Bill aims to ensure equal rights for women across all religions, overriding existing personal laws. It has been referred to a Parliamentary Standing Committee for further discussion after facing opposition, with critics questioning the haste in its introduction.
The Bill proposes amendments to the 2006 law to strengthen the protection against child marriage and promote gender equality. It seeks to define a "child" as a female under the age of 21. Irani emphasized the secular nature of the Bill, stating that it applies to women of all faiths, whether governed by the Hindu Marriage Act, the Muslim Personal Law, or other laws.
Opposition parties, including Congress, voiced concerns over the Bill’s introduction without sufficient consultation, calling for a thorough review. Some argued that it infringes on personal laws and fundamental rights. Despite opposition, the Bill aims to address issues such as women’s empowerment, increased labor force participation, and self-reliance.
The Bill stems from recommendations by the Jaya Jaitly Committee, established in 2020 to study the age of marriage. Historically, the minimum age for marriage in India has seen gradual increases, from 15 to 18 years for girls in 1978. The amendment seeks to bring about a uniform marriageable age for women across religions and address conflicting personal laws, with the Constitution taking precedence where necessary.
