Advantages of raising the legal age of marriage from 18 to 21
The government has raised the legal age of marriage for women from 18 to 21 years. With this decision, the government has brought the age of marriage for both men and women at par. The law prescribes a minimum age of marriage to essentially outlaw child marriages and prevent the abuse of minors.The Narendra Modi government decided to re-examine the age of marriage for women for a number of reasons, including gender-neutrality. An early age of marriage, and consequent early pregnancies, also have impacts on nutritional levels of mothers and their children, and their overall health and mental wellbeing. It also has an impact on Infant Mortality Rate and marriage Maternal Mortality Rate, and the empowerment of women who are cut off from access to education and livelihood after an early marriage. This law has helped girls in many aspects. At present, many girls are forced to drop out of studies for marriage. So, making the minimum legal age for marriage as 21 will allow them to...