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PROHIBITION OF CHILD MARRIAGE (AMENDMENT) BILL

19th October, 2023

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Picture Courtesy: www.anandabazar.com

Context: The Parliamentary Panel examining the Prohibition of Child Marriage (Amendment) Bill, 2021 has been granted a fresh three-month extension to table its report.

Prohibition of Child Marriage (Amendment) Bill

  • The Prohibition of Child Marriage (Amendment) Bill, 2021, which aims to increase the minimum age of marriage for women from 18 to 21 years, has been under examination by a parliamentary committee in India.
  • The bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha in December 2021 and was subsequently referred to the Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth, and Sports for detailed examination.
    • The committee has received multiple extensions to complete its deliberations on the bill, with the most recent extension granted on October 17, 2023.
    • This three-month extension will allow the committee to continue its examination and present its report on the bill by January 24, 2024.
  • The proposed amendment seeks to establish uniformity in the minimum age of marriage for both men and women, thereby overriding any existing laws, customs, usages, or practices that govern marriage age requirements.
  • The aim of increasing the minimum age of marriage for women is to address issues related to child marriage and promote gender equality in marriage laws. This extension provides more time for the committee to thoroughly assess the bill and make recommendations based on its findings.

Must Read Articles:

PROHIBITION OF CHILD MARRIAGE (AMENDMENT) BILL 2021: https://www.iasgyan.in/rstv/prohibition-of-child-marriage-amendment-bill-2021

CHILD MARRIAGE: https://www.iasgyan.in/daily-current-affairs/child-marriage-45#:~:text=The%20government%20introduced%20the%20Prohibition,the%20family%20and%20social%20pressures.

PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES: https://www.iasgyan.in/daily-current-affairs/parliamentary-committees-33#:~:text=Parliamentary%20Committees%20also%20exercise%20oversight,for%20their%20performance%20and%20outcomes.

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. What are the key legal and social challenges that India faces in addressing and preventing child marriage, and what measures have been taken to mitigate this issue and promote gender equality in marriage laws?