While raising women's legal marriage age could prove to be a transformational step in women empowerment, the Indian society presents certain challenges that would defeat the very purpose of it. Elucidate.

The PM recently set-up a panel to recommend the next ranking of women marriage from the present 18 to 24'

Transitional step in women's empowerment

1. Would lead to gender parity in age of marriage which will tackle mentality of women having to be young

2. 1 It would raise the age of first child birth, needed for women's well-being, nutrition as well as the future child's well being.

3 It would incentivise more women to complete their education and even take up careers. (raise the female LFP2 from present 18%)

4. This would help create equal marriage, greater financial independence of women.

Indian society's challenges that make the purpose defeated

① prevalence of child marriage eg. 26 mn- child bodies in India.

② Increasing age limit will not guarantee better health & nutrition eg. 50- f. women - anaemic

③ women do not participate in economic sphere due to reasons like patriarchy , security concerns, etc. (the proposal - not tackled by the proposed)

Thus, while easily the age is concerned, also it is not a panacea & needs to be bolstered with other steps. - eg. Tax incentives for women - Security related steps. - example POSHAN Abhiyan