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Gender • India

Over 1,500 cases of child marriage reported between 2013-17, Says Smriti Irani

Over 1,500 cases of child marriage have been reported between 2013-2017, Women and Child Development minister Smriti Irani asserted on Nov 28.

In response to a query in Rajya Sabha, Smriti Irani presented the five year data according to which the highest number of cases was recorded in 2017 at 395 while in 2016 the number of cases received were 326.

In 2015, 293 cases were received while in 2014 as many as 280 cases were reported. In 2013, the number of cases received was 222, the data remarked.

However, The most current data from UNICEF (2018) signify that about 21% of young women worldwide (aged 20 to 24) were married as children; this is a 25% decrease from 10 years ago.

The countries with the highest observed rates of child marriages below the age of 18 are Niger, Chad, Mali, Bangladesh, Guinea and the Central African Republic, with a rate above 60%.

About the author

Trilok Singh

Mr. Trilok Kumar Singh is a media entrepreneur, researcher, and academic associated with K.R. Mangalam University and several digital platforms. Mr. Singh is presently teaching in the School of Emerging Media and Creator Economy (SEMCE) at K.R. Mangalam University (KRMU), Gurugram, while pursuing a Ph.D. in Journalism and Mass Communication at the same university.​ He holds a master’s degree in Political Science from Kirori Mal College, University of Delhi, and a master’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Galigotias University, along with a postgraduate diploma in Broadcast Journalism from International School of Journalism and Mass Communication, News 24 Campus.

He has built multiple digital ventures in news and social media, including Youth Darpan Media, IASmind.com, Post AtoZ Social Media, Micro BlogIN, and the International Journal of Journalism and Mass Communication (IJJMC), where he serves in leadership roles. His platforms and initiatives have been highlighted by various media outlets, and he has several years of experience in the digital media ecosystem as a founder and CEO. Mr. Singh has written extensively on sustainability, climate change, international relations, foreign policy, Indian politics, governance, and contemporary issues, contributing hundreds of articles and opinion pieces to Indian and global digital platforms. In addition, he has authored multiple journal articles and book chapters, further strengthening his academic and professional contributions to media and communication studies.

In 2025, Trilok Singh published a research article titled “Navigating Media Regulation and Censorship in Over‑the‑Top Platforms” and six book chapters: “Sustainable Development Cooperation Under India’s G20 Presidency,” “Digital Pathways to Sustainability: Assessing the Role and Impact of OTT Platforms in Advancing the United Nations SDGs,” and “The Role of Digital Media in Promoting Sustainable Business Practices in Delhi NCR,” among others. He also received two Best Research Paper Presenter awards at one international and one national conference in recognition of this work.