India today stands on the cusp of development with a young population ready to take charge. About 21 per cent of the population in India are between the ages of 10 and 19 years, of whom 47 per cent are female and 53 per cent male. Data by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) suggests a 50 per cent rise in child marriage cases in 2020 compared with the year before. This includes formal marriages and informal unions in which children under 18 live with a partner as if married. Moreover, social inequality, gender norms, perceived low status of girls, poverty and lack of education lead to children in rural areas being more affected than those in urban areas. 

The practice denies children access to education and quality of life and adversely impacts their physical and psychological well-being.

Big data from online searches and public posts were analysed for India to identify potential trends related to child marriage. The reference period for search data ranged from April 2021 to March 2022, whereas for social media posts it ran from January 2018 to April 2022.