Karnataka records 55% drop in child marriages among girls, 88% among boys: Study
Bengaluru: Karnataka has recorded one of the most sharpest declines in child marriages in the country, with a 55% drop in cases involving girls and an 88% decline among boys over the past three years, according to a new study cited by The Hindu.
The report titled "Tipping Point to Zero: Evidence Towards a Child Marriage Free India", was released by Just Rights for Children (JRC), a coalition of over 250 non-governmental organisations. It attributes the sharp decline to awareness campaigns, stronger legal deterrence, and community-level interventions that created trust in reporting mechanisms.
The study, which spanned 757 villages across five states, noted a 69% reduction in child marriages among girls and a 72% drop among boys in India. Assam registered the steepest fall among girls at 84%, followed by Maharashtra and Bihar (70% each), and Rajasthan (66%).
Among the 92% of respondents surveyed, awareness campaigns were identified as the most effective tool in combating child marriage, followed by legal action such as FIRs and arrests (50%).
Notably, Karnataka’s success stands out for its reliance on community-based systems rather than law enforcement as the primary channel for reporting child marriages. According to the report, 75% of cases in the state were reported through helplines, and 53% through Child Welfare Committees, compared to just 40% through police stations.
This shift, the report notes, reflects a “critical link between trust in community-based systems and action against child marriage,” highlighting the importance of grassroots engagement.
A major policy initiative credited with the decline is the state government's decision to empower Panchayat Development Officers (PDOs) to register marriages. Their accessibility in villages allowed PDOs to both raise awareness and take preventive action—stopping nearly 2,000 child marriages in 2021 alone, the report noted.
Furthermore, Karnataka became the first state in India to amend the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act to make even engagements involving minors a punishable offence.
Building on such legislative progress, the report recommends further measures including stricter enforcement of the law, mandatory registration of all marriages, and broader dissemination of the Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat portal. Additionally, it recommends the designation of a National Day Against Child Marriage to help mobilise public support and drive collective action towards achieving a child marriage-free India by 2030.
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KSRTC to run 1000 special services to clear Christmas rush
Bengaluru: The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation will operate 1000 additional special services in view of the Christmas festival.
In addition to the existing schedule, the special services will run on 19.12.2025, 20.12.2025 and 24.12.2025. Further, special buses will be operated from various places of intra & Interstate places to Bengaluru on 26.12.2025 & 28.12.2025.
Special buses will be exclusively operated from Bengaluru Kempegowda Bus Station to Dharmastala, Kukkesubramanya, Shivamogga, Hassan, Mangaluru, Kundapura, Shringeri, Horanadu, Davangere, Hubbali, Dharwad, Belagavi, Vijayapura, Gokarna, Sirsi, Karwar, Raichur, Kalaburagi, Ballari, Koppala, Yadgir, Bidar, Tirupathi, Vijayawada, Hyderabad and other places.
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Special buses from Mysuru Road Bus Station will be exclusively operated towards Mysuru, Hunsur, Piriyapatna, Virajpet, Kushalanagar, Madikeri.
The corporation has also announced a discount of 5 per cent on the fare if four or more passengers book tickets under a single reservation. A discount of 10 per cent will be extended on return journey tickets if onward and return tickets are booked simultaneously.
In addition to the above, special buses will be operated from all Taluk/District Bus Stands in the jurisdiction of KSRTC based on the traffic needs.
