The norms of marriage seem to matter more than the legal age of marriage for these effects. Marriage restricts women from seeking skilled employment and education way beyond the minimum age of marriage, and also affects their mobility. The minimum age of marriage for men and women in India is 21 and 18 years, respectively. It is in the older age groups that unmarried women are more likely than married women to participate in the labour force. It is possibly because married women primarily do unskilled and semi-skilled work that the labour force participation rate (LFPR) is higher among married women in younger age groups.

Source: Hindustan Times August 23, 2020 00:11 UTC