Context: Child marriages in Madhya Pradesh have risen sharply by 47% since 2020, with Damoh district emerging as the worst hotspot in 2025.
- Parliamentary data shows 538 cases recorded this year, the highest in five years.
About Child Marriage Hotspot:
- What it is?
- A persistent cluster of districts reporting disproportionately high child marriages, mainly in Bundelkhand, central MP, Gwalior–Chambal and tribal belts, indicating entrenched socio-economic vulnerabilities.
- Trends:
-
- Steady Statewide Rise: MP saw cases rise from 366 (2020) to 538 (2025) — a 47% increase despite awareness campaigns.
- District-Level Surge: Damoh alone accounts for 21% of all child marriages in 2025, jumping from 33 cases in 2024 to 115 in 2025.
- Regional Concentration: Bundelkhand, tribal and economically backward districts dominate the list, signalling poverty-linked, region-specific persistence.
- Implications:
- Rising child marriages undermine girls’ education, health and economic participation, deepening intergenerational poverty.
- It increases risks of maternal mortality, early pregnancies and domestic violence.
- The trend signals weak enforcement of PCMA 2006, gaps in local governance, and failure of social protection schemes to reach the most vulnerable.
Relevance in UPSC Exam Syllabus:
- GS-I (Indian Society):
- Social issues, patriarchy, demographic vulnerabilities, regional backwardness.
- GS-II (Governance & Social Justice):
- Implementation gaps in PCMA 2006, child protection mechanisms, role of state machinery and district administrations.
- GS-IV (Ethics):
- Violation of child rights, exploitation of vulnerable groups, ethical responsibilities of state and society.
