India Still Faces High Child Marriage Rates, Experts Warn of State-Level Disparities

Hindustan Times · india

Despite significant progress, India still accounts for one in three child brides globally, with one in five young women married before 18. While the national prevalence has dropped from over 50% in 1996 to around 20%, experts caution against relying on averages. Five states, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh, contribute to over half of all child marriages. UNICEF highlights the need for sustained investments in girls' education, health, and protection to accelerate progress towards ending child marriage by 2030.