Arranged Marriage

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A bride in India.

Arranged marriages have long been the norm in Indian society. Even today, the majority of Indians have their marriages planned by their parents and other respected family-members. In the past, the age of marriage was young.^[39] The average age of marriage for women in India has increased to 21 years, according to 2011 Census of India.^[40] In 2009, about 7% of women got married before the age of 18.^[41]

In most of the marriages the bride's family provide a dowry to the bridegroom. Traditionally, the dowry was considered a woman's share of the family wealth, since a daughter had no legal claim on her natal family's real estate. It also typically included portable valuables such as jewellery and household goods that a bride could control throughout her life.^[42]Historically, in most families the inheritance of family estates passed down the male line. Since 1956, Indian laws treat males and females as equal in matters of inheritance without a legal will.^[43] Indians are increasingly using a legal will for inheritance and property succession, with about 20 percent using a legal will by 2004.^[44]

In India, the divorce rate is low — 1% compared with about 40% in the United States.^[45][46] These statistics do not reflect a complete picture, though. There is a dearth of scientific surveys or studies on Indian marriages where the perspectives of both husbands and wives were solicited in-depth. Sample surveys suggest the issues with marriages in India are similar to trends observed elsewhere in the world. The divorce rates are rising in India. Urban divorce rates are much higher. Women initiate about 80 percent of divorces in India.^[47]