Issue of Child Marriage

On 10th October 2024, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) identified over 11 lakh children vulnerable to child marriage in 2023-24, taking preventive steps through family counselling, school reintegration, and law enforcement efforts.

The NCPCR collaborated with child marriage prohibition officers (CMPOs), district authorities, and other stakeholders under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act (PCMA), 2006, to address the issue.
Over 1.2 crore people across India were reached through awareness campaigns, with Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh leading in the fight against child marriage.
Uttar Pradesh alone identified over 5 lakh children at risk of dropping out of school, which a significant factor is contributing to child marriages, with proactive measures taken to address the issue.
Preventive steps included family counselling, school reintegration, and efforts by local officials to map schools and identify children who had been absent for 30 consecutive days without notice.
In states like Karnataka and Assam, officials held over 40,000 meetings with religious leaders, marriage service providers, and Anganwadi workers to raise awareness and prevent child marriages involving minors.