Bengaluru, January 27, 2026: Despite widespread awareness campaigns, legal prohibitions, and active intervention by government departments, child marriage continues to remain a significant social challenge in Karnataka. Coordinated efforts by the Women and Child Development Department, Child Protection Units, and police have resulted in the registration of 8,355 complaints related to child marriage across the state between 2023 and 2025.
Of these, authorities successfully prevented 6,157 child marriages through timely action. However, 2,198 child marriages still took place during the three-year period, leading to the registration of 2,170 FIRs against violators under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 (as amended in 2016) and Karnataka Rules.
District-wise data for 2025 reveals persistent hotspots:
- Belagavi: 44 cases
- Ballari: 23 cases
- Chitradurga: 64 cases
- Kolar: 62 cases
- Shivamogga: 57 cases
- Chikkamagaluru: 19 cases
- Chikkaballapur: 16 cases
- Bengaluru Rural: 8 cases
- Bagalkot: 7 cases
- Davanagere and Vijayapura: 14 cases each
Officials attribute the continued prevalence of child marriage to deep-rooted parental mindsets, societal pressures, and inadequate community-level awareness despite repeated campaigns. The issue remains a serious concern, particularly in rural and semi-urban areas, where traditional beliefs often override legal safeguards.
The state government continues to strengthen enforcement through multi-departmental coordination, awareness drives in schools and villages, and strict monitoring during peak marriage seasons. However, experts stress that long-term change requires sustained social reform, education, and community involvement to eradicate the practice completely.
