Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
This question tests knowledge of the relationship between marriage age, fertility, reproductive rights, and mortality rates.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Statement I:
Delaying marriage age for girls allows them to complete education and gain economic independence.
It enables better reproductive health outcomes by allowing girls to decide when to have children.
It reduces risks associated with early pregnancy such as complications and infant mortality.
It empowers women to exercise their reproductive rights.
This statement is true.
Statement II:
Delayed marriage actually helps to decrease, not increase, overall mortality rates.
Girls who marry later have better maternal health outcomes.
Infants born to older mothers (within reproductive age) have better survival rates.
Early marriage is associated with higher maternal and infant mortality.
This statement is false because it states the opposite of what is true.
Step 3: Final Answer:
Thus, Statement I is true but Statement II is false, which corresponds to option (C).
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