For Prelims: Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 (PCMA), Child Marriage Prohibition Officer (CMPO), Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP), National Family Health Survey (NFHS), Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Target 5.3, Campaign name, Launch date, Nodal Ministry
For Mains: preventive vs punitive approach, whole-of-government approach, social norm change, multi-sectoral convergence, grassroots institutionalisation (CMPOs), SDG 5.3 alignment
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PIB
5 facts for one-day exams
SSC, railway, police and teaching exams ask direct questions like these.
- Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat campaign was launched on 27 November 2024 by the Ministry of Women and Child Development.
- Child marriage prevalence dropped from 23.3% (NFHS-5) to 20.1% (NFHS-6).
- The campaign aims for a child-marriage-free India by 2030, aligned with SDG Target 5.3.
- 6.85 lakh awareness programmes reached 12.47 crore participants; 42.01 lakh pledges were registered.
- 71,882 Child Marriage Prohibition Officers are on the BVMB Portal; the governing Act is PCMA, 2006.
Why in the news?
India's Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat campaign, launched in November 2024, has reached 12.47 crore people and reduced child marriage prevalence from 23.3% (NFHS-5) to 20.1% (NFHS-6). The campaign aims for a child-marriage-free India by 2030, aligned with SDG Target 5.3, and is backed by the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, and the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao scheme.
Summary
- The Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat (BVMB) campaign was launched on 27 November 2024 by the Ministry of Women and Child Development to eliminate child marriage by 2030.
- Child marriage prevalence among women aged 20-24 (married before 18) declined from 23.3% in NFHS-5 (2019-21) to 20.1% in NFHS-6 (2023-24), a drop of 3.2 percentage points.
- The campaign's key achievements include 6.85 lakh awareness programmes, 42.01 lakh pledges, and designation of 71,882 Child Marriage Prohibition Officers (CMPOs), with 59,686 at Gram Panchayat level.
Highlights
Declining Prevalence
Child marriage among women aged 20-24 dropped from 23.3% (NFHS-5) to 20.1% (NFHS-6), a 3.2 percentage point fall.
Mass Community Outreach
6.85 lakh awareness programmes reached 12.47 crore people, and 42.01 lakh pledges were taken against child marriage.
Strengthened Legal Framework
71,882 CMPOs are now on the BVMB Portal, and the Supreme Court's 2024 framework emphasises prevention over punishment.
Background
Child marriage in India is prohibited under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 (PCMA), which replaced the 1929 Sarda Act. Despite legal prohibition, NFHS-5 (2019-21) showed 23.3% of women aged 20-24 were married before 18. The practice leads to early pregnancy, domestic violence, school dropout, and perpetuates poverty. The government's response combines law (PCMA), a social empowerment scheme (Beti Bachao Beti Padhao under Mission Shakti), and a dedicated national campaign (Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat) launched in November 2024.
Key Analysis and Impact
BVMB has achieved significant outreach: 6.85 lakh awareness programmes, 12.47 crore participants, and 42.01 lakh pledges. The campaign's digital backbone, the BVMB Portal, lists 71,882 CMPOs (59,686 at Gram Panchayat level) and has recorded 4,536 child marriage incidents. Prevalence has declined to 20.1% in NFHS-6. States like Bihar (-6.2 pp) and Assam (-6.5 pp) show notable improvement. The Supreme Court's October 2024 judgment shifted focus from punishment to prevention and protection, emphasising full-time CMPOs and multi-sectoral awareness.
Way Forward
The campaign targets a child-marriage-free India by 2030, aligned with SDG 5.3. Key priorities include strengthening dedicated CMPO arrangements, improving portal data quality, expanding pledge mobilisation, and deepening participation of Panchayats, urban local bodies, educational institutions, and faith leaders. The 100-Day Intensive Awareness Campaign (Nov 2025 to Mar 2026) provided a structured three-spell approach targeting schools, religious institutions, and Gram Panchayats. Sustained focus on 257 high-burden districts identified from NFHS-5 data remains critical.
Child marriage prevalence: NFHS-5 vs NFHS-6
| Indicator | NFHS-5 (2019-21) | NFHS-6 (2023-24) |
|---|---|---|
| Women 20-24 married before 18 | 23.3% | 20.1% |
| Change | - | 3.2 pp decline |
Background GK
Textbook concepts you need to understand this news
- Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 (PCMA)
- The primary Indian law that prohibits child marriage, replacing the Child Marriage Restraint Act, 1929. It defines a child as a male under 21 and a female under 18, makes child marriage voidable at the option of the child, and prescribes penalties including up to 2 years imprisonment and a fine of up to ₹1 lakh.
- Child Marriage Prohibition Officer (CMPO)
- An officer appointed by the State Government under Section 16 of the PCMA, 2006, responsible for preventing child marriages, collecting evidence, counselling, creating awareness, and furnishing periodic returns.
- Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP)
- A multi-sectoral scheme launched on 22 January 2015, led by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, to address the declining Child Sex Ratio and empower girls. It is implemented as a component of Mission Shakti.
- National Family Health Survey (NFHS)
- A large-scale, multi-round survey conducted in India by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. It provides data on population, health, and nutrition indicators, including child marriage prevalence.
- Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Target 5.3
- A global target under SDG 5 (Gender Equality) to eliminate all harmful practices, including child, early and forced marriage and female genital mutilation, by 2030.
Facts to remember
Tap a card to see the answer. Try to recall it first.
How exams will ask this
- Data: Child marriage prevalence dropped from 23.3% (NFHS-5) to 20.1% (NFHS-6) — a 3.2 percentage point decline.
- Data: BVMB campaign launched on 27 November 2024; target year 2030.
- Data: 6.85 lakh awareness programmes, 12.47 crore participants, 42.01 lakh pledges, 71,882 CMPOs.
- Nodal Body: Ministry of Women and Child Development.
- Legal Point: Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 (replaced the Child Marriage Restraint Act, 1929); Section 16 (CMPOs); Supreme Court judgment of 18 October 2024.
Don't make this mistake!
Students may confuse the Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat campaign with the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao scheme or Mission Shakti. BVMB is a campaign, not a standalone scheme; BBBP is a scheme under Mission Shakti. Also, the legal age for marriage differs for males (21) and females (18) under PCMA, 2006 — a common trap. The child marriage prevalence figure is for women aged 20-24, not all women.
Write these in mains answers
- preventive vs punitive approach, whole-of-government approach, social norm change, multi-sectoral convergence, grassroots institutionalisation (CMPOs), SDG 5.3 alignment
Stuck? Get it in one tap
Child marriage is when a girl under 18 or a boy under 21 gets married. It is illegal in India under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006. The government launched the Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat campaign in November 2024 to stop this practice through awareness, community action, and strict law enforcement. The campaign has already reached over 12 crore people and reduced the percentage of girls married early from 23.3% to 20.1%.
- Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat campaign was launched on 27 November 2024 by the Ministry of Women and Child Development.
- Child marriage prevalence dropped from 23.3% (NFHS-5) to 20.1% (NFHS-6).
- The campaign aims for a child-marriage-free India by 2030, aligned with SDG Target 5.3.
- 6.85 lakh awareness programmes reached 12.47 crore participants; 42.01 lakh pledges were registered.
- 71,882 Child Marriage Prohibition Officers are on the BVMB Portal; the governing Act is PCMA, 2006.
- Society: Women and child welfare
- Governance: Government schemes and campaigns
Related concepts: Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 (PCMA), Child Marriage Prohibition Officer (CMPO), Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP), National Family Health Survey (NFHS)
Practice questions
Pick an answer, then read the explanation.
- Q1Easy
Which ministry is the nodal ministry for the Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat campaign?
Explanation: The Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat campaign is led by the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD). The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is involved in the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao scheme but is not the nodal ministry for BVMB. The Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Law and Justice are not the nodal bodies for this campaign.
- Q2Hard
Consider the following statements regarding the Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat campaign:
- 1.The campaign was launched in November 2024 with the objective of making India child-marriage-free by 2030.
- 2.Under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, a child is defined as a person who has not completed 18 years of age, regardless of gender.
- 3.The campaign's portal has recorded over 4,500 child marriage incidents for preventive action.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation: Statement 1 is correct: BVMB was launched on 27 November 2024 targeting a child-marriage-free India by 2030. Statement 2 is incorrect: under PCMA, 2006, a 'child' is a male who has not completed 21 years and a female who has not completed 18 years of age. Statement 3 is correct: 4,536 child marriage incidents were recorded on the BVMB Portal. Hence option C is correct.
- Q3Medium
According to the National Family Health Survey-6 (2023-24), what percentage of women aged 20-24 years were married before the age of 18?
Explanation: NFHS-6 (2023-24) recorded that 20.1% of women aged 20-24 were married before 18, down from 23.3% in NFHS-5 (2019-21). 23.3% is the NFHS-5 figure, not the current one. 17.8% and 26.5% are not the correct figures from the survey.
- Q4Medium
What is the primary objective of the Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat campaign?
Explanation: BVMB aims to eliminate child marriage by 2030 through awareness, community participation, and strengthening the legal framework. Financial assistance is provided under other schemes like BBBP, not the campaign's primary objective. Amending the Act or changing the legal age of marriage is not part of the campaign's stated goal.
Frequently asked questions
1. What is the Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat campaign?
Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat is a national campaign launched on 27 November 2024 by the Ministry of Women and Child Development to eliminate child marriage in India by 2030.
2. What is the current child marriage prevalence in India according to NFHS-6?
According to NFHS-6 (2023-24), 20.1% of women aged 20-24 were married before the age of 18, down from 23.3% in NFHS-5 (2019-21).
3. What is the legal age of marriage under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006?
Under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, a child is defined as a male who has not completed 21 years and a female who has not completed 18 years of age.
4. How many Child Marriage Prohibition Officers are listed on the BVMB Portal?
The BVMB Portal lists 71,882 Child Marriage Prohibition Officers (CMPOs), including 59,686 at the Gram Panchayat level.
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- Original6 November 2026 · Read story
