What is the legal age to perform marriage for girls in India?

Appeared in: UPUMS Nsg.Officer-2024

Explanation

21 years, reflecting the latest legislative change approved by the Government of India.
In December 2021, the Union Cabinet passed the Prohibition of Child Marriage (Amendment) Bill, which raises the legal age of marriage for women from 18 to 21 years.
This amendment aims to bring the legal marriage age for women at par with men (which is 21 years) to promote gender neutrality and empower women.
The bill seeks to amend various personal laws to implement this new age limit uniformly across different communities.

Option A: This was the previous legal minimum age for girls as per the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, and the 1978 amendment to the Child Marriage Restraint Act.
Option B: 20 years has never been the legally specified minimum age for marriage for either men or women in India.
Option C: 19 years has never been the legally specified minimum age for marriage for either men or women in India.

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 for women in India as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Raising the marriage age is a significant public health measure. It helps reduce the Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) and Infant Mortality Rate (IMR), as early pregnancies pose higher health risks to both mother and child.
Delaying marriage allows for better nutritional outcomes for women, which in turn leads to healthier pregnancies and babies.
From a social determinants of health perspective, it provides women with more time and opportunity to pursue higher education and achieve economic independence, leading to improved long-term health and well-being.

How to Approach the Question

This is a factual recall question based on current Indian law.
First, identify the core of the question: 'legal marriage age for girls in India'.
Recall the historical context of marriage laws in India, such as the Child Marriage Restraint Act (1978) and the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act (2006), which both set the age at 18 for girls.
Crucially, remember the most recent and significant legislative development: the Prohibition of Child Marriage (Amendment) Bill, 2021.
This bill's primary purpose was to raise the legal marriage age for women to 21, making it equal to that of men.
Select the option that reflects this latest governmental policy change.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Parks TextBook of Preventive & Social Medicine part 1 — Subpart C (pp 404-604 of 604) p. 182-184

E6 Midwifery Obstetrics and Gynecology Nursing Sandeep Kaur p. 65-81

Practise the full UPUMS Nsg.Officer-2024

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