Knowing the legal age for marriage in India is useful for everyone, especially if you’re planning to get married or want to understand the rules around marriage age. The legal age shows when boys and girls can marry according to Indian law and customs.
Legal Age of Marriage in India 2025
Marriage customs vary across different communities in India. Some wait until their late twenties or thirties, while others marry soon after reaching the legal age. The law sets the minimum marriage age to protect young people from early marriages. Right now, the legal marriage age in India is 18 years for girls and 21 years for boys. This is covered under the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 and the Special Marriage Act, 1954.
Both laws say boys must be at least 21 years old and girls must be at least 18 to marry. There’s also the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, which stops anyone from arranging marriages for children under these ages. Recently, there has been discussion about increasing the marriage age for girls to 21, to match the boys’ age, but this change has not been approved by parliament yet and is still under consideration.
Legal Age of Marriage for Girls in India
Most personal laws and the Special Marriage Act say girls should be 18 or older to marry. However, in Muslim personal law, reaching puberty can mean readiness for marriage, which is why sometimes girls younger than 18 marry, although the government does not encourage this. Some reports suggested raising the legal age for girls from 18 to 21 in 2025, but it is not a law yet.
Legal Age of Marriage for Boys in India
Boys must be at least 21 years old to marry legally because the law expects them to financially support their spouse. Like girls, Muslim boys can marry after reaching puberty under their personal law, but generally, the age limit is 21.
Science and Age of Marriage
Science shows that puberty marks biological readiness for reproduction. For girls, puberty usually happens between 10-15 years, and for boys between 13-16 years. But just because someone reaches puberty doesn’t always mean they’re ready for married life. Early marriage, especially for girls, carries health and social risks like higher rates of maternal mortality.
Research shows that people marrying between 24 and 30 years often have better chances of long-lasting marriages. However, maturity and life situations are different for everyone.
Recent Data on Marriage Age and Fertility
| Marriage and Fertility in India (%) | Urban | Rural | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women aged 20-24 married before age 18 | 14.7 | 27.0 | 23.3 |
| Men aged 25-29 married before age 21 | 11.3 | 21.1 | 17.7 |
| Total fertility rate (children per woman) | 1.6 | 2.1 | 2.0 |
| Women 15-19 years already mothers or pregnant | 3.8 | 7.9 | 6.8 |
| Adolescent fertility rate for women 15-19 years (per 1000) | 27 | 49 | 43 |
Court Marriage
Tamil Nadu Marriage Registration
UP Marriage Registration
Haryana Marriage Registration
If you come across any child marriage cases, contact family lawyers or local authorities to make sure the law is followed.