Subject: Indian Society

The institution of marriage in India is undergoing significant transformation from its traditional sacramental character to a more secular and contractual arrangement, influenced by modernization, urbanization, and changing social values.

Indicators of Changing Marriage Values

• Rising Divorce Rates: According to recent data, Karnataka alone witnessed 66,863 divorce petitions in 2022, indicating growing acceptance of divorce despite India's overall low divorce rate of 1%.

• Legal Recognition of Alternatives: The judiciary has recognized live-in relationships through various landmark judgments, challenging the traditional sanctity of marriage.

• Urban-Rural Divide:

  • Urban areas show increasing prevalence of love marriages and inter-caste unions.
  • Rural areas continue to maintain traditional arranged marriages and endogamous practices.

Factors Contributing to Change

• Individualization:

  • Growing emphasis on personal choice and individual autonomy.
  • Rising educational levels and economic independence, especially among women.

• Legislative Changes:

  • Proposed increase in women's marriage age to 21 years.
  • Introduction of online marriage registration systems.
  • Mandatory pre-marital counseling proposals.

Persistence of Traditional Values

• Social Stigma:

  • Divorce continues to face social disapproval, leading to underreporting.
  • Traditional joint family values remain strong in rural India.

• Religious Significance:

  • Marriage maintains its spiritual importance in religious ceremonies.
  • Hindu Marriage Act continues to recognize marriage as a sacred union.

The institution of marriage in India is experiencing a dual reality where traditional sacramental values coexist with modern secular interpretations. While urban India embraces new marital paradigms like live-in relationships and court marriages, rural India largely preserves the traditional sacred character, suggesting a gradual rather than absolute transformation of marriage as an institution.