Context: Recently, the government’s proposal to raise the legal age of marriage for women illustrates a timeless principle of governance that rises above all ideologies.
Current age of Marriage

• At present, the minimum age of marriage is 21 and 18 years for men and women, respectively.
• The minimum age of marriage is distinct from the age of majority, which is gender-neutral. According to the Indian Majority Act, 1875, an individual attains the age of majority at 18.

Status of Child Marriage in India

• Though, there has been a decline in the incidence of child marriage nationally (from 54% in 1992-93 to 27% in 2016) and in nearly all states, the pace of change remains slow, especially for girls in the age group 15-18 years. Further, according to NHFS 4, 6.6% married before 15 years of age.
• Child marriage is more prevalent in rural areas (48%) than in urban areas (29%).

Impact of Child Marriage on Health

• Sexually transmitted diseases: Child marriage exposes the young girls to risk of contracting HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.
• Maternal Mortality: Women attain maximum height during adolescence (10-19 years). Entering pregnancy at this stage obstructs attaining optimum height. It also prevents full growth of reproductive organs resulting in higher chances of obstructed labour and mortality.
• Child Malnutrition: Poor maternal height (<145 cms) is reported to be one of the highest risk factors associated with chronic child undernutrition. According to data, prevalence of malnutrition among children born to adolescent mothers is 11% higher than among the others.
• Mental health is also a major concern. Violence and abuse at marital home can lead to post-traumatic stress and depression.

Can raising age of marriage help address women health issues?

• Raising the age of marriage will raise the age of motherhood, and thus address the health problems of young mothers and their infants. It will also lower the fertility rate.
• However, it is important to understand that the root cause of child marriage is poverty and address the issue.  Poverty and marriage expenses such as dowry often lead a family to marry off their daughter at a young age to reduce these costs. Therefore, if poor women continue to remain poor and malnourished, raising their age of marriage by a few years would not make much difference.

Road Ahead

• Instead of tackling gender inequality, they reinforce the belief that girls are a burden relieved only by marriage. To bring genuine change, we need free education beyond schooling for girls, coupled with job guarantees, especially for those from rural areas and vulnerable social locations. 
• This would make it genuinely possible for girls to have some say as to whether, how or when they wished to marry.
• Incentives or cash transfer education schemes for girls to enable them to complete secondary education. Further, efforts should be made to provide gainful employment to women.
• Efforts need to be made to delay the age of conception. Schemes such as universal registration of marriage can help in providing newly married couples with information on family planning and family care.