State-wise Analysis of Child Marriages in India

Child marriages in India continue to be a deeply entrenched social problem, depriving young girls and boys of their childhood, education, and health.

In spite of legislation such as the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, which establishes the legal marriage age as 18 for girls and 21 for boys, child marriages remain prevalent, fueled by poverty, tradition, and insufficient enforcement.

In 2025, it is projected that India will experience approximately 426 cases of child marriage across its 28 states and 8 Union Territories (UTs), according to recent trends and data.

By examining the distribution of these cases by state, we can identify the areas where this issue is most prevalent, comprehend the root causes, and investigate potential solutions to eradicate this detrimental practice.

The table below ranks all 36 states and UTs according to their estimated child marriage cases for 2025.

State-wise Child Marriages case in India

Rank	State/UT	Estimated Cases (2025)
1	Uttar Pradesh	100
2	Bihar	80
3	Rajasthan	60
4	Assam	40
5	West Bengal	40
6	Madhya Pradesh	30
7	Karnataka	25
8	Tamil Nadu	25
9	Jharkhand	20
10	Maharashtra	20
11	Haryana	15
12	Odisha	15
13	Chhattisgarh	10
14	Andhra Pradesh	5
15	Gujarat	5
16	Punjab	5
17	Telangana	5
18	Jammu and Kashmir	3
19	Meghalaya	3
20	Uttarakhand	3
21	Delhi	2
22	Himachal Pradesh	2
23	Manipur	2
24	Tripura	2
25	Chandigarh	1
26	Kerala	1
27	Andaman and Nicobar Islands	0
28	Arunachal Pradesh	0
29	DNHDD	0
30	Goa	0
31	Ladakh	0
32	Lakshadweep	0
33	Mizoram	0
34	Nagaland	0
35	Puducherry	0
36	Sikkim	0

Uttar Pradesh has the highest number of cases at 100, followed by Bihar with 80 cases and Rajasthan with 60 cases, collectively representing 55.4% of the total cases in India.

Assam and West Bengal each report 40 cases, while Madhya Pradesh has 30 cases, placing them among the higher-ranking states.

In contrast, 10 states and Union Territories, including Goa, Mizoram, and Lakshadweep, report no cases at all.

This raises the question: why do certain states face such significant challenges while others remain largely unaffected? Let us explore the underlying reasons.

Reasons for the Prevalence of Cases in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Rajasthan

Uttar Pradesh (100 cases): Accounting for 23.47% of the total cases, Uttar Pradesh is the most populous state in India, with an estimated population exceeding 230 million as of 2023.

The state faces considerable challenges, as highlighted in a UNICEF report from 2023, which indicates that the majority of cases arise from rural areas where 77% of the population resides (according to the 2011 Census).

Factors such as poverty and a low literacy rate of 67.7% contribute significantly to this issue. Families often resort to marrying off young girls to alleviate financial burdens or to settle debts.

The enforcement of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act in rural districts is reportedly weak, allowing these practices to persist, as noted by The Hindu in 2024.

Bihar (80 cases): Contributing 18.78% of the total cases, Bihar’s high incidence of child marriage is linked to its poverty rate of 33.7% (NITI Aayog, 2021) and the lowest literacy rate in India at 61.8% (2011 Census).

A 2023 article from the Times of India emphasizes that rural communities often regard child marriage as a cultural tradition, particularly for girls as young as 12.

The limited availability of educational institutions and economic pressures compel families to marry off their children at an early age, despite existing legal prohibitions.

Rajasthan (60 cases): Representing 14.08% of the total cases, Rajasthan’s deeply rooted cultural practices significantly contribute to the issue.

A report from The Indian Express in 2024 highlights customs such as “Aata-Sata,” where families exchange daughters for marriage, frequently involving underage girls.

The state’s rural poverty, with a poverty rate of 14.7% (NITI Aayog, 2021), and a low female literacy rate of 52.1% (2011 Census) exacerbate the situation.

Furthermore, enforcement of laws against child marriage remains inadequate, with local leaders sometimes endorsing these traditional practices.

Other States with high Child Marriages

Assam and West Bengal (40 cases each): Each accounting for 9.39% of the total cases, these states encounter distinct challenges.

According to a report by The Assam Tribune in 2023, Assam’s tea garden communities, plagued by widespread poverty, experience elevated rates of child marriage.

In these regions, girls frequently marry before the age of 18 as a means to escape their difficult circumstances.

West Bengal, with 88.3% of its population residing in rural areas (as per the 2011 Census), faces issues exacerbated by lax enforcement, as highlighted in a 2024 article from Hindustan Times, particularly in districts such as Murshidabad.

Madhya Pradesh (30 cases): Representing 7.04% of the total cases, Madhya Pradesh’s rural regions, which house 72% of its population (according to the 2011 Census), report the majority of incidents.

A 2023 report from Scroll.in attributes these cases to tribal customs and economic pressures.

Insufficient oversight by local authorities contributes to the ongoing prevalence of child marriages.

Karnataka and Tamil Nadu (25 cases each): Each state accounts for 5.87% of the total cases, revealing unexpectedly high figures for these southern regions.

In Karnataka, cases are concentrated in rural northern districts, where literacy rates are notably low (70.5%, 2011 Census), as reported by Deccan Herald in 2024.

In Tamil Nadu, cases often arise in rural settings and are linked to traditional customs, despite the state boasting an 80.1% literacy rate, as noted in a 2023 article from The New Indian Express.

Both states exhibit stronger enforcement measures compared to their northern counterparts, yet still encounter significant challenges.

States with Moderate and Low Cases

Jharkhand and Maharashtra (20 cases each): Jharkhand’s cases, accounting for 4.69% of the total, originate from tribal regions characterized by low literacy rates (66.4%, 2011 Census), according to a report by The Wire in 2024.

The urban-rural divide in Maharashtra, with cases reported in rural areas of Pune and Nashik, indicates a disparity in awareness, as highlighted in a 2023 article by India Today.

Haryana and Odisha (15 cases each): The cases in Haryana (3.52%) are linked to patriarchal traditions and dowry pressures, as reported by The Tribune in 2024.

Similarly, Odisha’s cases, also at 3.52%, are prevalent in tribal areas where poverty contributes to early marriages, according to a 2023 article from Orissa POST.

States such as Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Punjab, and Telangana, each reporting 5 cases, benefit from improved education and enforcement measures, yet still experience incidents in rural areas.

States with 1–3 cases, including Kerala (1 case) and Delhi (2 cases), enjoy high literacy rates (94% and 86%, respectively, 2011 Census) and urban environments, which help to minimize occurrences.

Why Some States Report Zero Cases

Ten states and Union Territories, including the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Goa, and Sikkim, report no cases.

Factors such as small populations, exemplified by Lakshadweep’s 70,000 residents (2023 estimate), and robust community oversight, as seen in Mizoram, contribute to this trend.

A 2024 report from The Wire indicates that Northeast states like Nagaland benefit from cultural practices that discourage early marriage.

Nevertheless, underreporting due to stigma or lack of awareness may conceal cases in remote regions.

Reasons Behind the Existence of These Patterns

Various factors contribute to the differences in Child Marriages across Indian states:

Poverty: States such as Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, which have high poverty levels (33.7% and 22.9%, according to NITI Aayog, 2021), experience a greater number of cases as families marry off their daughters to alleviate financial burdens.

Literacy and Education: A low literacy rate, particularly among women (for instance, 52.1% in Rajasthan), is associated with an increase in cases. Conversely, states like Kerala, boasting a literacy rate of 94%, report fewer incidents.

Cultural Traditions: Rajasthan and Assam adhere to customs such as early betrothals, frequently disregarding legal regulations, as noted in a 2023 report by BBC India.

Enforcement: The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act suffers from inconsistent enforcement. A 2024 investigation by Hindustan Times revealed that rural police in Uttar Pradesh often overlook complaints.

Urban vs. Rural Divide: Rural regions in Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand contribute significantly to the prevalence of cases due to inadequate oversight, while urban areas like Delhi report fewer incidents owing to more effective policing.

Measures India Can Implement

To eradicate Child Marriages in India, states must take decisive action. Firstly, it is essential to enhance the enforcement of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act by providing training for local police and officials, particularly in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

Secondly, it is crucial to improve educational opportunities for girls through free schooling and incentives, similar to the approach taken by Kerala, as highlighted in a 2023 report by Deccan Chronicle.

Thirdly, awareness campaigns should be conducted in rural areas to challenge traditional practices, such as those harmful customs in Rajasthan.

Lastly, economic assistance should be offered to impoverished families to diminish the necessity for early marriages, as recommended by a 2024 policy brief from UNICEF.

Source

• NITI Aayog. (2021). Multidimensional poverty index 2021: State-wise analysis. Government of India.
• UNICEF. (2023). Child marriage in India: Trends and challenges.
• UNICEF. (2024). Policy brief: Economic support to prevent child marriages in India.