On December 4, 2025, Union Minister Annpurna Devi, Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD), launched a ‘100-Day Intensive Awareness Campaign for a Child Marriage Free Bharat’ at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi, Delhi, marking the first anniversary of the ‘Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat Abhiyan’.
- Union Minister of State (MoS) Savitri Thakur, MoWCD was present at the event.
Exam Hints:
- What? Launch of 100-Day Intensive Awareness Campaign for a Child Marriage Free Bharat
- Who? Union Minister Annpurna Devi, MoWCD
- Where? New Delhi (Delhi)
- Significance: First anniversary of Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat Abhiyan
- Phases: 27 November-31 December 2025 (Spell 1), 1-31 January 2026 (Spell 2), 1 February – 8 March 2026 (Spell 3)
- Target: Reduce child marriage rate below 5% by 2029
- Coordinated Ministries: MoHFW, MoPR, MoRD, MoE
Child marriage:
Definition: Child marriage is defined as the marriage of a girl below 18 years or a boy under 21 years. Additionally, if an adult male over 21 years marries a girl under 18, it is also classified as a child marriage.
Target: All states are working together with the objective of reducing the child marriage rate to below 5% by 2029.
- According to the National Family Health Survey(NFHS) – 5 (2019-21), Child marriages in India halved from 47.4 % in 2005-06 to 23.3 % in 2019-21
About 100-Day Intensive Awareness Campaign:
Phases: The campaign is implemented through structured three-spell approach, including:
- Spell 1, from 27 November to 31 December 2025, under which awareness activities, including debates, essay competitions, interactive sessions and pledge ceremonies will be conducted in schools, colleges, and universities.
- Spell 2, from 1 to 31 January 2026, MoWCD will engage with faith leaders, community influencers and marriage service providers to amplify messages on child rights, safety and empowerment.
- Spell 3, from 1 February to 8 March 2026, the campaign will focus on mobilisation of Gram Panchayats and Municipal Wards to pass resolutions declaring their jurisdictions child marriage free.
Grassroot Level Engagement: Frontline workers such as Anganwadi Workers(AWWs), Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs), Auxiliary Nurse Midwifery (ANM), Teachers and Counsellors, One Stop Centres, and Non-Government Organization (NGOs) are the first point of contact with the community and prevent child marriage through awareness, reporting, and support.
Coordinated Ministries: The campaign is implemented in coordination with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR), Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), and Ministry of Education (MoE).
National Pledge: During the event, a National Pledge to End Child Marriage was taken and special film, featuring grassroot change makers, was screened.
About Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat Abhiyan:
Launch: The Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat Abhiyan’, launched in November 2024, is the flagship initiative under the MoWCD aimed at eradicating child marriage in India.
Aim: This awareness drive marks a renewed push to mobilize public support and strengthen enforcement of laws against child marriage.
About Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD):
Union Minister – Annpurna Devi (Constituency – Kodarma, Jharkhand)
Minister of State (MoS) – Savitri Thakur (Constitutency – Dhar, Madhya Pradesh, MP)
