The Child Marriage Menace

Why in News?

Recently, The Union government marked the first anniversary of its Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat Abhiyan earlier this month with a 100-day awareness campaign for a country free of child marriage, as part of its commitment to the UN to end child marriage by 2030.

What is the global situation?

• SDG 5 – The fifth UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) is to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.
• Within this SDG, Target 5.3 is to eliminate all harmful practices, including child marriage, as well as early and forced marriages, and female genital mutilation.
• Indicators – Progress on child marriage is monitored using the indicator of the proportion of women between the ages of 20 and 24 years who were married before they turned 18.
• UNICEF data – In 2023, estimated that 64 crore girls got married in childhood, with a whopping third of them in India alone. It added that progress needs to happen 20 times faster than it has been to reach the 2030 target.
• Prevalence – Globally, 19% of young women aged 20-24 were married as children, a decrease from 23% a decade ago.
• Regional Burden – Nearly half (45%) of all child brides live in South Asia, primarily driven by the numbers in India, which alone accounts for one-third of the global total.
• Highest Rates – Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest prevalence rate, with one in three girls marrying before 18, and at the current pace, the region is over 200 years away from ending the practice.
• Stagnation and Reversal – Progress has largely stagnated in Latin America and the Caribbean and the Middle East and North Africa, with crises like the COVID-19 pandemic, conflicts, and climate change threatening to reverse gains made in other areas.

What is the situation in India?

• NFHS data – India has made tremendous strides in reducing child marriage, dropping from 47.4% in 2005-06 to 26.8% in 2015-16, a sharp decline of 21 percentage points over a decade, according to data from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS).
• Progress slowed thereafter, with child marriage rates dropping just 3.5 percentage points over the next five years to reach 23.3% in 2019-21.
• Higher rates – The highest child marriage rates among women aged 18 to 29 years was seen in:
  • West Bengal (42%),
  • Bihar (40%), and
  • Tripura (39%),
  • Jharkhand (35%),
  • Andhra Pradesh (33%),
  • Assam (32%),
  • Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu (28%),
  • Telangana (27%),
  • Madhya Pradesh (25%), and
  • Rajasthan (25%).
• Lowest rates – The percentage of women marrying before the legal minimum age of 18 years is lowest in:
  • Lakshadweep (4%),
  • Jammu & Kashmir (6%),
  • Ladakh (6%),
  • Himachal Pradesh, Goa, and
  • Nagaland (7% each).
• Disparities on the basis of higher education and income – The UN Population Fund’s analysis of NFHS data shows that 48% of girls with no education were married below 18 years of age in comparison to only 4% among those with higher education.
• Also, 40% of girls from the lowest quintile of the household wealth index married before they became adults, in comparison to just 8% of those from the highest quintile.

What action is being taken?

• Legal measures – The Prevention of Child Marriage Act was passed in 2006, and national child marriage rates have halved since then.
• The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 has also helped prevent child marriage.
• However, experts note that legislation has a limited impact without a shift in social norms, especially with respect to the education of girls, which has the highest impact on raising the age of marriage.
• Minimum age for marriage – The Union government proposed to raise the minimum age of marriage for women to 21 years to bring them at par with men, and to pave the way for women to complete their higher education, and have greater skills, maturity and independence when they get married.
• Bal Vivah Mukt Abhiyan – The Bal Vivah Mukt Abhiyan portal records that, as of December 20, 54,917 child marriage prevention officers have been appointed across the country to conduct awareness activities and act on child marriage complaints.
  • Child marriage prevented – In the year since the campaign began, it has prevented 1,520 reported instances of child marriage either through persuasion or administrative action, with Madhya Pradesh and Haryana recording the highest figures.
• However, it also records that 198 child marriages were not prevented, resulting in police complaints, reports to the Child Welfare Committee or the provision of annulment.
  • Collaboration – The campaign has partnered with faith leaders, youth groups and community networks that hold real influence at the grassroots-level to change the narrative on child marriage and encourage timely reporting and prevention.
• Beti Bachao Beti Padhao scheme – The Centre’s flagship aims to address the declining child sex ratio through empowerment measures, especially promotion of education, though effective implementation has been patchy on the ground.
• Laadli schemes – It offer financial support to families with girl children from birth, and steps are being taken to increase the enrolment of girls in school, with measures such as cycles for safe transport to better sanitation in schools.
• Efforts of states – A number of States offer financial aid for girls’ education.
  • For instance, West Bengal’s Kanyashree scheme, which offers low-income families ₹1,000 per year to educate their girls between the ages of 13 and 18, along with a one-time grant of ₹25,000 for 18 and 19-year-olds, provided that girls pursue higher education and delay marriage.
• Some women’s activists, however, say that the State with the highest rates of child marriage is sending mixed signals with its Rupashree scheme, offering ₹25,000 to low-income families at the time of a daughter’s marriage, though the stipulation is that she has crossed 18 years.

What lies ahead?

• The Union government could increase the participation of women in the labour force and improve maternal and child health.
• However, Opposition MPs sought greater scrutiny of the Prohibition of Child Marriage (Amendment) Bill.
• Critics warn that without social reform, a mere legal change could simply criminalise many communities, given that a staggering 61% of women aged 20 to 24 years married before they turned 21 years.
• Girls Not Brides, a global partnership, warns that the child marriage target will also impact other SDGs.
• Unless we make significant progress on ending child marriage, we will fall short on at least nine of the SDGs, including those related to poverty, food security, health, education, gender equality, economic growth, climate action, and peace and justice.

Reference

The Hindu| Child Marriage

Bridges of India – Architecture against the Odds

Why in News?

Recently the bridge of Indian has gained a wide attention for its infrastructural  efficiency and engineering marvel.

What are the importance of Indian bridges?

• Witness of Indian engineering – Spanning over turbulent rivers, deep gorges, and restless seas, India’s bridges stand as silent testimonies to the country’s engineering ambition.
• Tool of connectivity – They connect not just towns and regions, but people, cultures, and economies, often in places where geography had long dictated isolation.
• Across India, bridges shape everyday life in ways most of us barely notice.
• They shorten distances that once took days to cross, open access to remote communities, and withstand nature at its fiercest.
• Measuring the vision of infrastructure – Among the countless bridges that form a vast network throughout the country, several key bridges exemplify the scale and vision of India’s infrastructure.
• Each one carries its own tale, of daring design, relentless weather, and the human resolve to overcome terrain.

What are the bridges that define india’s connectivity?

• Atal Bihari Vajpayee Sewri-Nhava Sheva Atal Setu – Stretching across the Arabian Sea like a bold stroke on the city’s canvas, the Atal Setu, also known as the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL).
• It marks Mumbai’s biggest step towards a horizon unrestrained by traffic and time.
• It has been developed to ease the heavy traffic burden of Mumbai’s island city.
• Built using advanced construction and safety systems, the bridge offers a faster and safer route across the bay, reducing accident risks and improving the daily travel experience for commuters.
• The MTHL has helped boost tourism in Mumbai and nearby regions, while also enhancing connectivity for trade and industry, contributing to the growth of the local economy.
• Spanning 16.5 kilometres over the sea and extending another 5.5 kilometres on land, and stands as India’s longest sea bridge.
• Even amid the unprecedented challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, the project managed to stay on track and meet its planned deadline.
• Chenab Bridge – India’s engineering prowess has reached a new pinnacle with the completion of the Chenab Bridge, the world’s highest railway arch bridge.
• It has been hailed as a testament to the brilliance and commitment of the country’s engineers and workers as the project confronted hurdles.
• The Chenab Bridge rises 35 metres higher, positioning itself not only as a vital infrastructural asset but also as an emerging tourist landmark.
• Perched 359 metres above the Chenab River, the bridge forms a crucial segment of the Udhampur–Srinagar–Baramulla Railway Link (USBRL).
• With Vande Bharat trains set to operate on the route, travel time between Katra and Srinagar will reduce to just about three hours.
• The 1,315-metre-long steel arch structure has been designed to withstand wind speeds up to 260 kmph and built with a projected lifespan of 120 years.
• The Chenab Rail Bridge stands as a symbol of India’s ambition, technical excellence, and advancing infrastructure capabilities.
• New Pamban Bridge – The newly constructed Pamban Bridge, connecting Rameswaram with the mainland, is India’s first vertical lift railway sea bridge.
• It has emerged as a standout symbol of modern Indian infrastructure on the world map.
• The 2.07 km structure includes a 72.5-metre vertical lift section that can rise 17 metres, allowing ships to pass safely without halting train movement.
• The new Pamban Bridge’s construction encountered major environmental and logistical challenges, including turbulent waters, strong winds, cyclones and seismic risks, and the difficulty of transporting heavy materials to the remote site within tight tidal windows.
• Through innovative engineering and advanced technology, over 1,400 tons of fabrication, lift-span launches, 99 girders, and extensive track and electrification work at sea were completed with zero injuries.
• Crafted with stainless reinforcement, high-performance protective coatings, and fully welded joints, the bridge promises greater longevity and lower upkeep.
• It has also been prepared for future growth, with space for a second railway line.
• A specialised polysiloxane finish shields the structure from corrosion, an essential safeguard given the demanding coastal conditions.
• Dhola–Sadiya Bridge – The Dhola–Sadiya Bridge, also known as the Bhupen Hazarika Setu, is a vital link between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.
• It provides the first permanent road connection between northern Assam and eastern Arunachal Pradesh.
• Built as a beam bridge, it sweeps over the Lohit River, one of the Brahmaputra’s major tributaries, connecting Dhola in Tinsukia district to Sadiya in the north.
• Stretching 9.15 kilometres, it is built to withstand the load of 60-tonne military tanks, including the Indian Army’s Arjun and T-72 models.
• This capability adds significant strategic value to the structure.
• Anji Khad Bridge – The Anji Khad Bridge pierces the Himalayan landscape with an elegance and scale unmatched, emerging as India’s first cable-stayed railway bridge and a key link in the Katra–Banihal section of the Udhampur–Srinagar–Baramulla Rail Line.
• Located about 80 kilometres from Jammu and set against snow-capped peaks, the bridge soars 331 metres above the Anji River valley and extends 725 metres across the gorge.
• Its defining feature is an inverted Y-shaped pylon rising 193 metres above its foundation, supported by 96 high-tensile cables.
• More than 8,200 metric tonnes of structural steel reinforce the bridge, enabling it to withstand seismic activity.
• The Anji Khad Bridge was built through extremely rugged Himalayan conditions marked by cherty limestone formations and unstable hill-wash debris with large limestone boulders.
• To protect the mountain ecology, extensive slope-stabilisation measures were implemented throughout construction.
• Beyond its technical sophistication, the Anji Khad Bridge stands as a symbol of persistence and vision, with completion in just 11 months.
• As part of the broader rail link connecting the Kashmir Valley with the rest of India, it is set to improve travel efficiency, enhance regional connectivity, and unlock new economic opportunities.

What lies ahead?

• India’s bridges are more than infrastructure; they are statements of intent, connecting a nation defined by scale and contrast.
• They rise from mountainsides, pierce through monsoon clouds, and skim the surface of some of the subcontinent’s most volatile waters.
• Through every corner of this vast terrain, various bridges continue to reflect India’s drive and determination.
• In their shadows lie stories of innovation, perseverance, and the complex landscapes they dared to conquer.
• They reshape economies, redraw maps, and reimagine how people move, live, and dream.
• Each new span reflects not just engineering progress, but the nation’s willingness to push beyond the limitations of region, time, and history.
• As India continues to grow, its bridges will remain among the clearest expressions of a country in motion, always reaching forward, always building its own path.

References

PIB| Bridges of India

Pongal

Why in news?

The Social Justice Monitoring Committee of the Tamil Nadu government made a strong case for including Pongal in the list of festivals recognised by UNESCO.

• Pongal is a harvest festival celebrated by the Tamil community in the state of Tamil Nadu.
• It is a celebration to thank the Sun, Mother Nature and the various farm animals that help contribute to a bountiful harvest.
• Meaning – The word Pongal comes from pongu (“to boil over”), symbolising prosperity.
• Dates – It is celebrated annually from 13 to 16 January, aligning with the Sun’s northward journey (Uttarayan).
• 4 Days of Celebration -

• It is also celebrated among the Tamil diaspora across the world, especially in Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Singapore.
• Celebrations in other states – Thai Pongal coincides with harvest festivals celebrated across various states under different names, such as
  • Makar Sankranti - Andhra Pradesh & Telangana,
  • Lohri – Punjab,
  • Sankranti - Karnataka, and
  • Magh Bihu - Assam, etc.
• Cultural Significance – It is a deeply cultural event, rooted in agriculture, but also emphasises community, familial bonds, and gratitude for nature's bounty.

Various festivals of India recognised by UNESCO – Ramman (2009), religious festival and ritual theatre of the Garhwal Himalayas; Kumbh Mela (2017); Durga Puja (2021); Deepavali (2025).

References

1. The Hindu | Book on fairs & festivals of Tamil Nadu
2. TN Tourism | Pongal
3. Indian Heritage Centre | Pongal

Supernova Stent Retriever

Why in News?

India approves indigenous stroke device based on local trial data; launch scheduled for February 2026.

• It is a new, indigenously developed medical device from India, used to treat severe strokes by removing clots and restoring blood flow to the brain within 24 hours.
• Purpose – It is used in mechanical thrombectomy, a minimally invasive procedure to remove clots and restore blood flow in acute ischemic stroke patients.

An acute ischemic stroke is a medical emergency where blood flow to part of the brain is suddenly blocked, usually by a clot, depriving brain tissue of oxygen and nutrients, causing cells to die within minutes.

• Developed by – Gravity Medical Technology, a private biomedical firm.
• Clinical trial led by – All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi, serving as the national coordinating centre and the lead enrolling site of the Supernova Stent Retriever system (GRASSROOT) study.
• Approved by – The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has approved the device’s manufacturing & marketing in India.
• Trail Outcomes – It has achieved high successful restoration of blood flow with brain bleed (3.1%), mortality (9.4%), and 50 % functional independence at 90 days.
• Global Context – The device has already been used to treat more than 300 patients in Southeast Asia, reinforcing safety and versatility.
• Affordability – It will now be made in India at affordable prices, bringing new hope to the 1.7 million Indians who suffer strokes each year.
• Significance – It is the 1^st time a stroke device in India has been approved entirely on local trial data, designed to meet India’s unique stroke profile, where patients are often younger than in Western countries.

Quick Fact

References

1. The Hindu | Indigenously built stroke device approved on domestic trial data
2. Business Standard | India sees a sharp rise in strokes among young adults

Reciprocal Exchange of Logistics Support (RELOS)

Why in News?

RELOS was approved by the Russian Parliament and signed by the President; it will take effect once Russia and India formally exchange the ratification documents.

• RELOS – A logistics-sharing pact between India and Russia allowing reciprocal access to military facilities for supplies, repairs, and refuelling.

Features

• Scope of Agreement – It governs the movement of military formations, warships, and aircraft between India and Russia as well as arrangements for providing reciprocal logistical support.
• Air & Naval Provisions – It will facilitate the mutual use of airspace by military aircraft, and has provisions related to port calls by warships of both countries.
• Logistics Coverage – It regulates the dispatch of troops and military equipment, and covers support services needed when forces operate on the other’s territory.
• Flexibility Clause – The provisions can be extended to other scenarios with mutual consent.
• Application – It is applied during joint military exercises and training activities, as well as in situations involving humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations.

Strategic Benefits for India & Russia

• Access to Bases – India gains institutional access to Russian air and naval bases, from Vladivostok (Pacific) and Murmansk (Arctic), for refuelling, repairs, and maintenance.
• Boosting operational reach and readiness, especially for Russian-origin equipment.
• Boost to Operational Reach – It enhances India’s readiness, especially for Russian-origin equipment.
• It supports India’s broader Indo-Pacific strategy by leveraging Russia’s extensive network, of provides access to over 40 Russian bases.
• Reciprocal Benefits for Russia – The Russian military gains access to Indian ports and airfields for refuelling, repairs, and operations.
• Strategic Impact – It deepens India–Russia defence partnership, institutionalises logistical support for Russian forces in the Indian Ocean, and bolsters Russia’s position in a multipolar world.

Similar pacts with the US

• LEMOA (Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement),
• COMCASA (Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement), and
• BECA (Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement).

Reference

Indian Express | India-Russia logistics agreement

Superkilonova

Prelims: Current events of national and international importance | Science & Technology

Why in News?

Scientists have recently observed an event that resembles a superkilonova at 1.3 billion light-years away.

• Superkilonova – It is a rare kind of cosmic explosion, an enhanced version of a kilonova, which itself results from the collision of two neutron stars.

Formation: From Supernova to Kilonova

• Supernova Explosion – A massive star explodes in a supernova (left), which generates elements like carbon and iron.
• Birth of Neutron Stars – In the aftermath, two neutron stars are born (middle), at least one smaller than the Sun.
• Gravitational Waves – The neutron stars spiral together, sending gravitational waves rippling through the cosmos, before merging in a dramatic kilonova (right).
• Kilonova Merger – Finally, they collide in a kilonova, creating heavy elements like gold and platinum.

Recent Discovery –

• The astronomers detected a bright source 1.3 billion light-years away.
• Initially, it looked like a kilonova for three days, then resembled a supernova, but more data is needed.

Key Findings

• Event AT2025ulz – Observed in August 2025, this transient may represent the first superkilonova—a supernova followed by a neutron star merger.
• Dual Explosion – Evidence suggests a massive star exploded, forming two neutron stars that quickly merged.
• Gravitational Waves – LIGO, Virgo, and KAGRA detected a signal from a merger involving at least one unusually tiny neutron star.
• Optical Counterpart – Caltech’s Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF) spotted AT2025ulz, a fading red object 1.3 billion light-years away.
• Spectral Evolution – It started as a fading red emission, then brightened into blue light accompanied by hydrogen features.
• Possible Mechanism – A rapidly spinning star may have split (fission) or fragmented, producing two sub-solar neutron stars that merged.

References

1. The Hindu | Superkilonova
2. Caltech | Possible "Superkilonova" exploded

Euthanasia & Landmark cases

Why in News?

The SC re-examines the Harish Rana case, recalling India’s law on euthanasia and landmark cases.

• Euthanasia – Euthanasia, from Greek for "good death," is the practice of intentionally ending a person's life to relieve suffering from an incurable condition, often called "mercy killing".
• Types
  1. Active euthanasia means directly causing death (e.g., giving a lethal injection).
  2. Passive euthanasia means allowing death by withholding or withdrawing life-sustaining treatment (e.g., stopping ventilator support).
• Legal Status – Passive euthanasia is legally recognised and regulated by the Supreme Court for terminally ill patients, whereas active euthanasia remains illegal, as it requires legislative action.

• Harish Rana Case Context – Harish Rana, 32, has been in a vegetative state for over a decade after a severe accident. His parents approached the SC seeking passive euthanasia.
• The Court described his condition as “pathetic” and ordered medical boards to assess whether life-sustaining treatment could be withdrawn.
• SC’s Position – The Court reaffirmed that Article 21 (Right to Life) does not include a general “right to die.”
• However, it does protect the right to live with dignity, which extends to the process of dying when life is “ebbing out.”

Judicial Journey of Euthanasia in India

• Gian Kaur v. State of Punjab (1996) – The Supreme Court has said Article 21 does not include a general “right to die.” Suicide and assisted suicide remain outside constitutional protection.
• Aruna Shanbaug case, 2011 – It reaffirmed the Gian Kaur case, that no right to die, but right to live with dignity may include dignified death in limited cases.
• The SC allowed passive euthanasia under strict safeguards.
• Court’s interim guidelines – Any decision to withdraw life support had to be taken by family/next friend/doctors in the patient’s best interest, but implementation required approval from the High Court.
• Common Cause case, 2018 – The Constitution Bench recognised passive euthanasia and legalised living wills, that competent adults can record a refusal/withdrawal of treatment in advance.
• SC Modification (2023) – The SC relaxed procedural requirements to make living wills more workable.

Reference

Indian Express | SC re-examines Harish Rana case