Karnataka — Child marriage remains a persistent social challenge in India, affecting girls’ health, education and future opportunities. However, its prevalence among women aged 20-24 years who got married before the age of 18 has declined from 23.3 per cent in NFHS-5 (2019-21) to 20.1 per cent in NFHS-6 (2023-24). Launched on 27 November 2024, the Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat campaign contributes to strengthening efforts to prevent child marriage through legal safeguards, public awareness and community participation. 6.85 lakh awareness programmes were conducted, 12.47 crore participants were reached and 42.01 lakh pledges were registered. As it completes two years, the campaign continues to advance the national goal of a child-marriage-free India by 2030.
Key Developments & Strategic Framework
Child marriage remains a persistent social challenge in India, even though it is prohibited by law. As per the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-6), 2023-24, 20.1 per cent of women aged 20-24 years were married before the age of 18, down from 23.3 per cent in NFHS-5 (2019-21), a fall of 3.2 percentage points.
Detailing the operational roadmap, the practice exposes girls to serious health risks, particularly from early pregnancy, increases vulnerability to domestic violence, interrupts education, and perpetuates cycles of poverty and gender inequality.
India’s response has therefore been layered: a law that prohibits and punishes, a scheme that changes how girls are valued, and, since November 2024, Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat (BVMB), a national campaign that brings the two together in community action.
Operational Benchmarks & Key Figures
Comprehensive program documentation and official disclosures outline key operational figures and quantitative benchmarks:
- Key Indicator: Established target milestone of 6.85 lakh under the active deployment framework.
- Key Indicator: Established target milestone of 12.47 crore under the active deployment framework.
- Key Indicator: Established target milestone of 42.01 lakh under the active deployment framework.
- Key Indicator: Established target milestone of ₹1 lakh under the active deployment framework.
- Key Indicator: Established target milestone of 40.96 lakh under the active deployment framework.
Contextual Background & Implementation Scope
The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 (PCMA)
In terms of implementation context, the legal answer to this challenge is the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, the statutory foundation for action against child marriage. It replaced the Child Marriage Restraint Act, 1929 (Sarda Act), shifting the legal approach from merely restraining child marriage to prohibiting it, while offering stronger protection and relief to victims.
A male who has not completed 21 years of age and a female who has not completed 18 years of age. A child marriage is one in which either contracting party is a child.
Looking Forward: Strategic Roadmap
Administrative bodies and departmental task forces will maintain active oversight across designated implementation cycles, ensuring scheduled deliverables translate into tangible public outcomes.
Reporting and source materials courtesy of Press Information Bureau.
