India sees 70% drop in child marriages, Assam leads the change

India has reported a remarkable decline in child marriages, marking a significant milestone in its effort to combat one of the country’s most entrenched social evils.

- SABIR NISHAT

According to a new survey by Just Rights for Children (JRC), a coalition of more than 250 NGOs working on child protection, child marriage rates have fallen by 69% among girls and 72% among boys between April 2022 and March 2025.

The report, Tipping Point to Zero: Evidence Towards a Child Marriage Free India, released on the side lines of the UN General Assembly in New York, was based on a survey across five states—Assam, Maharashtra, Bihar, Rajasthan, and Karnataka.

It highlights the combined success of government agencies, civil society organisations, and local communities. Assam recorded the sharpest decline in child marriages among girls at 84%, followed by Maharashtra and Bihar at 70% each, Rajasthan at 66%, and Karnataka at 55%.

While these numbers are encouraging, the data also exposes wide disparities among states, particularly in education and awareness levels.