Question

Which of the following statements are true regarding family and marriage in India.
(A). The Hindu Marriage Act of 1955 legalized monogamy in India and prohibited polygamy for Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, and Jains.
(B). In India, divorce is only allowed in cases of mutual consent.
(C). In India, the legal age for marriage is different for both men and women.
(D). The trend in India is towards nuclear families due to several factors, including urbanization and increasing individualism.

• A. (A), (B) and (C) only.
• B. (A), (B) and (D) only.
• C. (A), (B), (C), and (D).
• D. (A), (C) and (D) only.

Hint:

To solve legal and social family questions, remember that divorce laws in India cover both contested grounds (such as cruelty or desertion) and mutual consent.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Family and marriage are fundamental social institutions in India that have undergone significant legal, social, and structural changes over the past century.
To understand the contemporary Indian family, one must study the legal acts governing marriage, the shifting trends from joint to nuclear structures, and the laws regulating divorce and child marriage.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Let us analyze each statement individually:
(A). The Hindu Marriage Act of 1955:
This statement is true.
The Hindu Marriage Act of 1955 legally enforced monogamy and strictly prohibited polygamous marriages for Hindus, as well as Sikhs, Buddhists, and Jains, who are covered under the scope of this act.
This law was a major step towards gender equality and legal reform in personal laws.
(B). Divorce in India:
This statement is false.
Divorce in India is not restricted to mutual consent.
Under personal laws like the Hindu Marriage Act, divorce can also be filed under contested grounds (fault-based grounds), which include cruelty, desertion, adultery, conversion, mental illness, and leprosy.
(C). Legal age of marriage:
This statement is true.
Under Indian laws, including the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, the minimum legal age for marriage is different for men and women—currently set at 18 years for females and 21 years for males.
(D). Shift towards nuclear families:
This statement is true.
Due to industrialization, rapid urbanization, migration for employment, and a rise in individualistic values, the traditional joint family system is transitioning toward a nuclear family structure, especially in urban areas.
Therefore, statements (A), (C), and (D) are true, while statement (B) is false.

Step 3: Final Answer:
Thus, the correct option representing the true statements is (A), (C), and (D) only.