12 NEW DELHI: Child marriage persists in several Indian states despite years of campaigns promoting girls’ education and delayed marriage, with West Bengal and Jharkhand reporting the country’s highest share of girls marrying before the legal age of 18 years, according to the latest Sample Registration System (SRS) Statistical Report 2024.The report – released by the Registrar General of India – showed that while most women in India now marry after 21 years, there are pockets in parts of eastern and central India where early marriage remains entrenched. Nationally, 2.1% of women who got married in 2024 were below 18 years of age, while 24.5% married between 18 and 20 years. Nearly three-fourths – 73.5% – married at 21 years or above. Overall, more than one in four women in India still got married before the age of 21 in 2024.Bengal recorded the country’s highest proportion of girls marrying before 18 years at 6.3%, followed by Jharkhand at 4.9%. Chhattisgarh was also identified among states where a considerable proportion of girls (2.9%) continue to marry before adulthood. In rural India, 2.4% of girls married before turning 18, compared to 1.1% in urban areas.Among rural regions, Bengal reported the highest share of child marriages at 5.9%, followed by Jharkhand (5.8%). Bengal was also at the top for child marriages in urban areas at 7.6%, far above the urban national average of 1.1%. Delhi reported zero child marriage in the survey, while Kerala recorded one of the lowest rates at 0.04%.Haryana and Himachal also reported very low figures. The report showed the average age of marriage for women in India now stood at 23.1 years. Public health experts say early marriage is closely linked with school dropout, early pregnancy, higher maternal health risks and lower workforce participation among women.About the AuthorAnuja JaiswalAnuja Jaiswal is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Times of India, with an impressive 18-year career in narrative journalism. She specializes in health and heritage reporting, expertly simplifying complex health information to make it engaging and understandable for readers. Her deep dives into heritage topics are well-researched, resulting in captivating narratives that resonate with her audience. Over the years, she has worked in Chandigarh, Chhattisgarh and West UP, gaining diverse on-ground experience that shapes her storytelling.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos’Trauma Care Part Of Right To Life’: SC Orders 112 As One Unified Emergency Response NumberAfter 20 Years In Saudi Prison, Kerala Man Abdul Rahim Returns HomePatna Builder Gifts CM Portrait, Internet Reacts With “Majnu Bhai Would Be Proud” JokesTension At West Bengal Border As Migrants Wait For Return Amid Holding Centre OperationsTwisha Sharma Death Case: CBI Arrests Mother-In-Law & Retired Judge Giribala SinghFrom Brazil To India: Inside Gujarat’s Biggest Cocaine SeizureSiddaramaiah Resigns As Karnataka CM, DK Shivakumar Likely To Take OverSpecial Eid-ul-Adha Namaz Held At Taj Mahal Amid Tight Security Across Uttar Pradesh CitiesTamil Nadu CM Vijay Postpones Delhi Meeting With Rahul Gandhi After PM Modi MeetPriyanka Gandhi Intervention Boosts DK Shivakumar’s Push For Karnataka Chief Minister Post: Report123PhotostoriesDiscovering India’s only snake-free region10 famous snake parks and zoos in the USA every wildlife traveller should visit and how to reach here”Egg is the worst thing you can…” Sadhguru shares 3 traditional South Indian vegetarian dishes rich in protein and vitamin B125 most iconic Katrina Kaif movie looks that are making a comeback online10 toxic habits you think are normal, but they’re holding you backIndoor plants that you can grow without soilIndia’s hidden wine regions beyond NashikWhy atta dough turns dry in the fridge and 3 easy ways to retain its moistureThought of the day, inspired by Bhagavad Gita: “Inner peace begins where ego ends”5 art villages of india where art has been passed down from generations and is a way of life123Hot PicksParris Campbell RetirementClaude Lemieux DeathMitch MarnerKarnataka CMJai Pal SinghCristiano RonaldoSachine TendulkarTop TrendingPatna Boat AccidentGujarat Drug BustNEET UG Paper LeakNorth India HeatwaveGrocery price hikeBengaluru Ebola CaseUK NEETRahul GandhiIndian mango exportsFuel price hike

Bengal recorded the country’s highest proportion of girls marrying before 18 years at 6.3%, followed by Jharkhand at 4.9%. Chhattisgarh was also identified among states where a considerable proportion of girls (2.9%) continue to marry before adulthood. In rural India, 2.4% of girls married before turning 18, compared to 1.1% in urban areas.Among rural regions, Bengal reported the highest share of child marriages at 5.9%, followed by Jharkhand (5.8%). Bengal was also at the top for child marriages in urban areas at 7.6%, far above the urban national average of 1.1%. Delhi reported zero child marriage in the survey, while Kerala recorded one of the lowest rates at 0.04%.Haryana and Himachal also reported very low figures. The report showed the average age of marriage for women in India now stood at 23.1 years. Public health experts say early marriage is closely linked with school dropout, early pregnancy, higher maternal health risks and lower workforce participation among women.