Prohibition of Child Marriage or PCMA (Amendment) Bill 2021, which proposes to raise the legal age of marriage for women from 18 to which of the following?

Correct option is C

​The correct answer is (c) 21

Explanation:

• The Prohibition of Child Marriage (Amendment) Bill, 2021 seeks to raise the legal age of marriage for women from 18 to 21 years, bringing it at par with the legal age for men.
• The bill aims to promote gender equality, women's empowerment, and better health and education outcomes.
• This amendment modifies the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act (PCMA), 2006, and aligns with laws like the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, and the Special Marriage Act, 1954.
• The move is based on recommendations from the Task Force on Women’s Age of Marriage (headed by Jaya Jaitly), which examined the link between marriage age, nutrition, health, and women’s rights.

Information Booster:

Key Features of the Prohibition of Child Marriage (Amendment) Bill, 2021:

1. Equal Legal Age: Raises the minimum age of marriage for women from 18 to 21 years, making it the same as for men.
2. Applicable to All Communities: The amendment applies to all religions, castes, and backgrounds.
3. Overrides Personal Laws: The new provision applies to Hindu, Muslim, Christian, and all other personal laws governing marriage.

However, the Prohibition of Child Marriage (Amendment) Bill, 2021 lapsed when the 17th Lok Sabha dissolved. The bill was introduced in December 2021.