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

Appeared in: RRB Nsg. Superintendent-20 July 2019 (Shift-2)

Explanation

The current legal age for marriage for females in India is 18 years.
This is stipulated by the primary legislation governing this issue, The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006.
This act defines a female child as someone who has not yet completed 18 years of age.
The corresponding legal age for males is 21 years.

Option B: This age has no legal significance for the minimum age of marriage in India.
Option C: This age has no legal basis for the minimum age of marriage under Indian law.
Option D: 21 years is the legal minimum age for marriage for males, not females. A bill to raise the female marriage age to 21 was proposed in 2021 but has not been passed into law.

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 females in India as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Knowledge of the legal marriage age is vital for community health nurses, ASHA workers, and other healthcare professionals who counsel adolescents and their families on reproductive health and family planning.
Child marriage is linked to severe negative health outcomes, including higher rates of maternal and infant mortality, malnutrition, and obstetric complications like fistula, which nurses often manage.
Healthcare providers have a legal and ethical duty to report suspected cases of child marriage to the appropriate authorities to protect the minor.

How to Approach the Question

Identify the question as a factual recall question about a specific law in India.
Recall the primary legislation governing marriage age, which is The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006.
Remember the specific minimum ages set by this act: 18 years for females and 21 years for males.
Evaluate the given options. '18 years' directly matches the legal age for females.
Recognize '21 years' as a key distractor. It is the correct age for males and also the subject of a widely discussed but not-yet-passed legislative bill.
Conclude that the correct answer must be based on the current, enacted law, not on proposals or the law for the other gender.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Text Book Of Pediatric Nursing 3rd Panchali Pal — Part 1 (pp 36-238 of 713) p. 22-24

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

Practise the full RRB Nsg. Superintendent-20 July 2019 (Shift-2)

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