As per National population policy of India the age of girls for marriage is?

Tripura CHO - 2021

Forensic Nursing & Indian laws

Easy

Appeared in: Tripura CHO - 2021

Explanation

The National Population Policy (NPP) of 2000 set a sociodemographic goal to promote delayed marriage for girls, encouraging it to be not earlier than 18 years and preferably after 20.
This policy reinforced the legal framework established by the Child Marriage Restraint Act of 1978, which officially raised the minimum legal age of marriage for females to 18 years.
The corresponding legal age for males was set at 21 years.
The primary objectives were to improve maternal and child health, empower women through education and employment, and contribute to population stabilization.

Option A: This was the legal age for girls before being raised by the 1976 policy and the Child Marriage Restraint Act of 1978. Marriage at 15 is now illegal and considered child marriage.
Option C: This is the legal age of marriage for boys in India. While The Prohibition of Child Marriage (Amendment) Bill, 2021, proposes raising the age for girls to 21, it is not the current law under the policy mentioned.
Option D: This age has no specific legal significance regarding the minimum age of marriage in India.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Legal age of marriage for girls under India's National Population Policy as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses play a crucial role in community health by educating families and adolescents about the legal age of marriage and the significant health risks of early pregnancy.
Early marriage (before 18) is strongly linked to higher rates of maternal mortality, infant mortality, malnutrition, anemia, and obstetric complications like fistula.
As a part of RMNCH+A services, nurses counsel adolescents on reproductive health, delaying marriage, and family planning.

How to Approach the Question

This is a factual recall question based on national health and social policies.
Identify the key phrases in the question: "National Population Policy" and "age of girls for marriage".
Recall the specific provisions of this major Indian policy.
Differentiate between the legal age for girls (18 years) and boys (21 years).
Evaluate the options. Eliminate 15 years as it's the pre-1978 age and now illegal. Eliminate 21 years as it applies to boys (or is a future proposal for girls). Eliminate 19 years as it has no legal basis.
Select the option that correctly states the minimum legal age for girls, which is 18 years.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Legal age of marriage for girls under India's National Population Policy.
Stem keywords: National population policy, India, age of girls for marriage
Lead-in keywords: BEST, MOST RELEVANT CLUE

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