Towards Child Marriage-Free India

In a major nationwide effort to eradicate child marriage, the Government of India’s Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat (BVMB) campaign has been highlighted as a key initiative aimed at making the country child-marriage-free by 2030. The campaign also targets a 10% reduction in prevalence by 2026.

Child marriage — legally defined under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 — continues to be a pressing social challenge despite being prohibited by law. According to the latest government data, 23% of women aged 20–24 were married before turning 18, underscoring the urgency of concerted action.

Key Highlights

• First Achievements: Balod district in Chhattisgarh has become India’s first child marriage-free district in 2025. Meanwhile, in Surajpur district, 75 village panchayats have been officially recognised as child marriage-free.
• Historical Context: India’s struggle against child marriage traces back to 19th century reformers. The legal framework evolved from the Child Marriage Restraint Act (1929) to the robust Prohibition of Child Marriage Act (2006).
• Legal Safeguards: Under the law, child marriages are voidable, and adult offenders can face imprisonment and fines. The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and the POCSO Act also classify sexual relations with a minor spouse as rape.

Campaign and Strategy

The BVMB initiative builds on previous efforts like Beti Bachao Beti Padhao and centres on a multi-sectoral approach involving:

• Dedicated Child Marriage Prohibition Officers across districts;
• Technology-enabled reporting and monitoring via the BVMB portal;
• Mass awareness drives in schools and communities;
• Strengthened convergence between education, health, and rural development departments.

The 100-day high-intensity drive launched at Vigyan Bhawan in December 2025 aims to energise stakeholders from all sectors, reaffirming India’s commitment to ending child marriage well ahead of the SDG 5.3 target of 2030.