Bharat Global Time | Legal Affairs Desk
June 11, 2025 | New Delhi / Lucknow
Sweeping Changes in Marriage Laws Across India
In a landmark move, the Indian government has introduced comprehensive reforms in marriage laws, aimed at addressing modern social realities while safeguarding traditional family values. With Uttar Pradesh (UP) taking a lead in adopting these changes, the new rules are already stirring debate across legal and social circles.
The reforms were introduced as part of the Marriage Law (Amendment) Act 2025, passed in Parliament earlier this year and now actively implemented in several states, including UP.
Key Highlights of the 2025 Marriage Law Reforms:
1. Mandatory Pre-Marital Counseling
- All couples must now undergo government-registered pre-marital counseling sessions.
- The goal: to reduce early divorces and build realistic expectations between spouses.
2. Digital Marriage Certificates
- UP becomes the first state to fully digitize the marriage registration process.
- No physical visits required; everything is managed through the “Vivah Setu” portal.
- Biometric Aadhaar-linked verification is mandatory.
3. Minimum Age Clarification
- Reiterates the legal marriage age: 21 for men, 18 for women.
- Special monitoring cells to curb underage marriages in rural belts of UP and Bihar.
4. Financial Disclosure Mandatory
- Both parties must declare financial assets and liabilities before registration.
- Helps ensure transparency and reduce financial frauds post-marriage.
5. Anti-Fraud Marriages Regulation
- Any marriage found to be conducted for visa, property, or inheritance scams can be nullified by court within 6 months.
- UP officials say this was in response to rising “contract marriage scams.”
UP’s Bold Move: Marriage Disputes Fast-Track Courts
Uttar Pradesh has set up district-level fast-track courts to deal with:
- Dowry allegations
- Fraudulent marriages
- Marital abandonment cases
The courts are instructed to resolve cases within 90 days, reducing long-drawn legal battles that often affect women and children the most.
Political and Public Reaction
While many hail the reforms as progressive and balanced, some critics argue the law still doesn’t adequately address issues like live-in relationships or interfaith marriages.
UP Chief Minister said in a statement:
“These reforms protect both tradition and transparency. They are not anti-women or anti-men—they are pro-family.”
Indian Perspective: Trust, Tradition, and Transition
In a culturally sensitive nation like India, where marriage is more than a legal contract—it’s a social institution—this reform is seen as an attempt to strike a balance between modern legal needs and age-old values.
For young couples, these new rules bring structure. For parents, they bring assurance. For society, they bring hope for fewer fraudulent or exploitative marriages.
Final Word
Whether these laws will reduce marital discord or introduce new bureaucratic hurdles remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: India’s approach to marriage in 2025 is no longer the same.
