Minimum age of women for marriage from 18 to 21 yrs cleared in Cabinet

New Delhi:  The Union Cabinet on Wednesday cleared a proposal to increase the minimum age of women for marriage from existing 18 to 21 years.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had earlier announced the proposal during Independence Day celebrations last year.

“This government is constantly concerned about the health of daughters and sisters. To save the daughters from malnutrition, it is necessary that they’re married at the right age,” the Prime Minister had said.

Presently, the minimum age of men and women for marriage is 21, 18 years, respectively.

The Centre is considering amendments in the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, Special Marriage Act, and the Hindu Marriage Act to bring the plan into action.

A NITI Aayog task force comprising senior officials of the Health Ministry, Ministry of Women and Child Development and Law Ministry, set up in June last year, had backed the proposal. The recommendations on the proposal were submitted in December as the task force stressed a woman must be at least 21-year-old at the time of first pregnancy.

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