Parliamentary Panel to Raise Women's Marriage Age Receives 3-Month Extension

By: WE Staff | Thursday, 19 October 2023

The parliamentary committee responsible for reviewing a bill proposing to increase the minimum age for women's marriage from 18 to 21 has been granted an additional three-month extension to submit its report. The "Prohibition of Child Marriage (Amendment) Bill, 2021" was presented in the Lok Sabha in December 2021 and thereafter referred to the Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth, and Sports.

This extension marks a series of delays in finalizing the committee's report. The recent extension, granted by House Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar, is valid until January 24, 2024, during which the panel is expected to complete its examination of the bill.

The Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth, and Sports operates under the Rajya Sabha Secretariat. The bill, introduced by Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani, aims to establish parity between men and women in marriage age, raising concerns about overriding existing laws, customs, practices, and usages governing marriage parties.

The bill seeks to bring an essential legislative change by increasing the minimum marriage age for women, but the extended review process indicates ongoing discussions and considerations regarding this significant alteration.

This bill holds the potential to have a substantial impact on women's rights and the prevention of child marriages in India. Further deliberations are anticipated to yield insights into the bill's implications and potential adjustments to address various concerns.