India, Dec. 9 -- Maharashtra has prevented 6,428 child marriages over the past seven years, even as the state continues to witness a sharp rise in such incidents. According to data from the Women and Child Development (WCD) department, the number of attempted child marriages detected in the state has increased by over 800 per cent-from 187 cases in 2018-19 to 945 this year between April 2025 and November 2025.

WCD officials said the steady surge reflects improved reporting along with persistent socio-economic pressures that push families, particularly in rural and tribal pockets, to marry off minors. The trend shows a year-on-year rise, with the pandemic years aggravating vulnerabilities that forced many families toward early marriage. ...