Legal age of marriage for women in India

If the government is thinking of raising the minimum age from 18 to 21 years, it would not be a bad idea thinking the different biological changes which the womenfolk are facing during this stage. They step in the adulthood from the adolescent age. Maturity gradually follows and once they attain the age of 21, they would be considered as the matured ladies capable of taking independent decisions. Though the same is influenced with the family tradition and education but they can utilise their common sense to arrive at the realistic solutions once they attain the threshold age of 21.
Biologically also they become matured and once they take up decisions of marriage, there is least chances of complications on the way to motherhood. We have seen the cases of abortion of the girls within the age group of 18 - 21 due to their adolescent ages since their internal organs are not fully grown so as to give a delivery of a baby in a safe way.

I think it is good to increase the marriage age of a girl also to 21 years. I welcome this decision and hope that the bill will be passed in the Parliament after the Parliamentary committees' recommendations.

The following are the reasons for welcoming the decision.
1. When the minimum age is decided as 18 years, parents will be in a hurry to get their daughters married. They fix the marriage and girls are forced to drop their studies. If the age is increased to 21 years many girls will complete their graduation. Thus increasing the minimum age facilitate girls to pursue their higher studies.

2. In teenagers generally, boys and girls will not get their maturity levels developed completely. They can't think properly and there may be chances for them to take wrong decisions for which they may repent later.

3. Generally, early pregnancies in girls will increase the possibility of high blood pressure, anaemia and other health complication to both mother and the baby also. In some cases, these complications will become severe. Hence there will be severe pregnancy complications that may lead to the death of the mother.

4. There are chances for mental health problems also because of these early marriages.

5, Gender equality will also be projected in this case also if the minimum age limit is made the same for both genders. The chances of proper thinking regarding the qualities they are looking for in their life partner and accordingly they can select their partner.

Based on the above points I definitely say increasing the age is correct and naturally, women will welcome this decision.

As per my view, It is a very good decision to increase the age at marriage from 18 to 21. At the age of 21, the girl attains maturity level and she would capable to take house responsibility if she gets married at this age. Another advantage is as she can complete her degree till this age. And If she gets a chance then she can go for higher studies as well as a job. Besides, at this age, there is very little chance to be affected by the pregnancy-related problem. She can enjoy motherhood at this age in respect of physical and mental health.
I welcome this decision from the perspective of women's welfare. It must be implemented. Political parties always talk about women's empowerment. Only saying is not enough, women's age at marriage is also one of the important factors for the upliftment of women.

In my opinion, this is not a good idea. The government should not have raised this issue. At present 18 years and above is the marriageable age for women and 21 years for men. 18 years for women is the standard in most of the countries in the world. The Union government proposed this as a measure to create gender equality by raising the marriage age for women to 21 as for the men and thereby empowering the women. The decision looks good superficially as the socio-economic condition of the families is not taken into consideration. In a patriarchal society like ours, this makes no difference to the empowerment of women. The reasons for many Indian families to get their daughters married as early as possible are the following reasons.
1. The dowry escalates with the girl's qualification and age. The dowry system is deep-rooted and cannot be eradicated. The more qualified the girl, a groom of higher qualification is to be searched. The dowry escalates.
2. Social stigma is another reason. Society, mainly middle class and below feels that girls need to be married early as is the custom followed.
3. Safety of the girl: The parents will be always afraid when a girl goes out alone for any purpose.
4. Fear of love affairs that may arise when the girl is not married early. Sometimes the boy whom the girl loves may not be of the same caste and this complicates the matter.
5. One more mouth to be fed for some more time.
This is what a typical middle-class family feels. Things are changing but it takes a long time for a complete change.

Considering the points mentioned above, the government should not have poked its finger in a matter which is best left to the families. They will do what is good for them. These types of laws will bring police harassment and unnecessary court trials.