Buduan Mothers Accused of Child Harassment, Legal Intervention Needed

Answer: D

Statement A is correct: The PCMA defines a 'child' as a person who, if a male, has not completed 21 years of age, and if a female, has not completed 18 years of age. Statement B is incorrect: Section 3 of the PCMA states that every child marriage is 'voidable at the option of the contracting party who was a child at the time of the marriage', not void ab initio. A marriage is void ab initio only under specific circumstances mentioned in Section 12 (e.g., if a child is taken by force, enticed, or sold for marriage). Statement C is correct: Section 16 of the Act provides for the appointment of Child Marriage Prohibition Officers by the State Government. Therefore, both A and C are correct.

Answer: C

Statement 1 is correct: The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) is indeed a statutory body established under the Commissions for Protection of Child Rights Act, 2005. Statement 2 is correct: The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, introduced provisions allowing for the preliminary assessment of juveniles aged 16-18 involved in heinous crimes to determine if they should be tried as adults. Statement 3 is correct: Article 21A, inserted by the 86th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2002, mandates free and compulsory education for all children between the ages of six and fourteen years. Since all three statements are correct, the answer is C.

Answer: C

1. Low female literacy rates directly correlate with lower awareness of rights, limited agency, and reduced economic independence, making girls more vulnerable to child marriage. 2. Patriarchal societal norms often view girls as burdens or property, promoting early marriage for perceived security or to reduce family 'responsibility'. 3. Lack of access to proper sanitation facilities, while a significant issue affecting girls' education and health, is less directly and immediately an exacerbating factor for child marriage itself compared to the other three. It can indirectly contribute by affecting school attendance. 4. Limited economic opportunities for women reduce their bargaining power and make families more likely to marry off daughters early to alleviate poverty or secure a dowry. Therefore, factors 1, 2, and 4 are most directly and strongly linked to exacerbating child marriage.