New Delhi, Oct 10: The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has released its comprehensive annual report for 2023-24, focusing on the prohibition of child marriage across India. The report highlights increased reporting of child marriages alongside a significant decline in cases over the past three years, as a result of consistent review meetings and focused interventions within the framework of competitive-cooperative federalism.
As part of its mandate under Section 13(1)(a) of the Commission for Protection of Child Rights Act, 2005, the NCPCR conducted virtual review meetings with key stakeholders from all States and Union Territories over the course of a month. These meetings, which focused on the implementation of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, aimed to advance social welfare objectives for children. The report compiled data from 596 districts across 27 States and seven Union Territories.
NCPCR also monitors the implementation of various child protection laws, including the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015, and the Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009. Established in 2007, NCPCR works under the Ministry of Women and Child Development to safeguard children’s rights, ensuring that laws and policies align with both the Indian Constitution and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
