What is the minimum age for court marriage in India?

Answer By law4u team

The minimum age for court marriage in India under the Special Marriage Act, 1954 is: Groom (Male): 21 years Bride (Female): 18 years Important points: Both parties must have completed the required age at the time of marriage. Marriage below this age may amount to child marriage under Indian law. Both persons must also: Give free consent Be mentally competent Not have a living spouse These conditions are necessary for a valid court marriage in India.

Answer By law4u team

स्पेशल मैरिज एक्ट, 1954 के तहत भारत में कोर्ट मैरिज के लिए कम से कम उम्र है: दूल्हा (पुरुष): 21 साल दुल्हन (महिला): 18 साल ज़रूरी बातें: शादी के समय दोनों पार्टियों की ज़रूरी उम्र पूरी होनी चाहिए। इस उम्र से कम में शादी भारतीय कानून के तहत बाल विवाह मानी जाएगी। दोनों लोगों को यह भी करना होगा: अपनी मर्ज़ी से सहमति दें मानसिक रूप से सक्षम हों जीवित जीवनसाथी न हों भारत में वैध कोर्ट मैरिज के लिए ये शर्तें ज़रूरी हैं।

Answer By Ruchi Kashyap

groom age 18 year bride age 21 year

Answer By Ruchi Kashyap

groom age 21 year bride age 18 year

Answer By Ajay Chandrakant Vanjara

In India, the minimum age for a court marriage is: 21 years for the male, and 18 years for the female. The applicable provision depends on the law under which the marriage is solemnized. 1. Marriage under the Special Marriage Act, 1954 (Court Marriage) The relevant provision is: Section 4 of the Special Marriage Act, 1954 Section 4(c) provides that: "the male has completed the age of twenty-one years and the female the age of eighteen years." Therefore, a Marriage Officer cannot solemnize a court marriage if these age requirements are not fulfilled. 2. Hindu Marriage For marriages governed by the Hindu law, the same age requirement is prescribed under: Section 5(iii) of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 which states that: The bridegroom must have completed 21 years of age and the bride 18 years of age at the time of marriage. Although the Government had introduced a proposal to raise the minimum age of marriage for women from 18 to 21 years, no such amendment has come into force as of June 2026. Therefore, the legally enforceable minimum age remains: Male: 21 years Female: 18 years Effect of child marriage Under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, a marriage involving a male below 21 years or a female below 18 years is a child marriage. Such marriages are generally voidable at the option of the child party and, in certain circumstances specified in the Act, may be declared void. Therefore, if you intend to register a court marriage under the Special Marriage Act, the parties must have completed 21 years (male) and 18 years (female) as required by Section 4(c) of the Special Marriage Act, 1954.

Answer By Ashok Vishnoi

For boy 21 for Girl 18

Answer By Ayantika Mondal

Dear Client, The minimum age for marrying in India is legally set as 21 years for males and 18 years for women This requirement applies uniformly to all marriages performed under secular civil laws such as the Special Marriage Act of 1954 as well as even under personal laws that are governed under religious ceremonies. If a marriage is perform in contradiction to these age requirements it is considered as voidable under certain personal laws and subject to legal penalties for those who solemnized this marriage it is essential to ensure that both the parties have completed their respective age requirements at the time of filing the notice of intended marriage as any discrepancy in these documents can lead to immediate rejection of the application by the marriage officer. The marriage registrar is strictly prohibited from solemnizing or registering any marriage where either the bride or groom fails to meet these age criteria, during the registration process both the parties must provide government issued documents such as birth certificates, their 10th class mark sheets or passports to serve as proof of their age. I hope this answer helps, if you have any further query kindly do not hesitate to contact us. Thankyou