According to the Hindu Marriage Act of 1955, what is the legal minimum age for marriage for men and women, respectively?

Appeared in: HPSSC - 2015

Explanation

The Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, as amended, stipulates the minimum legal age for marriage in India for Hindus.
For a marriage to be legally valid, the groom (male) must have completed 21 years of age.
The bride (female) must have completed 18 years of age.
These ages were established by the Child Marriage Restraint (Amendment) Act of 1978 to prevent child marriages and ensure individuals are more mature before marriage.

Option A: These were the original minimum ages specified in the Hindu Marriage Act of 1955 before it was amended.
Option C: This is incorrect because the legal minimum age for men is 21 years, not 18.
Option D: This is incorrect because the legal minimum age for women is 18 years, not 21.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Legal minimum age for marriage under the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses, particularly in community health, must know the legal marriage age to identify and support at-risk individuals, such as underage brides who face higher risks of pregnancy complications, domestic violence, and poor maternal/child outcomes.
This knowledge is vital for patient counseling on reproductive health, family planning, and legal rights, empowering young people to make informed decisions.
What if? If a nurse encounters a pregnant 17-year-old, they must provide compassionate, non-judgmental care. However, knowing the law means they also recognize the situation involves a minor, which may trigger mandatory reporting duties and the need to involve social services to ensure the patient's safety and rights are protected.

How to Approach the Question

This is a factual recall question based on Indian law, which is part of the general knowledge syllabus for nursing exams.
First, identify the key legal act mentioned in the question: 'Hindu Marriage Act of 1955'.
Next, recall the specific provision related to the minimum age for marriage for both men and women.
Remember that this law was amended. The current ages are not the original ones. The amendment raised the ages.
Evaluate the options based on the current law, which requires the man to be 21 and the woman to be 18.
Select the option that correctly states 21 years for men and 18 years for women, respectively.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Legal minimum age for marriage under the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955.
Stem keywords: Hindu Marriage Act of 1955, legal minimum age, marriage, men, women
Lead-in keywords: what is
Negative lead-in flag: false

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E6 Applied Sociology for Nurses TK Indrani p. 166-168

Practise the full HPSSC - 2015

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.