Effects of Educational and Socio-economic Factors on Child Marriages in India: A Statistical Analysis.

This article examines the prevalence of child marriage in India and its association with educational and socio-economic factors using data from national surveys and advanced statistical methods, including Pearson correlation and artificial neural networks (ANNs). The study finds that regions with stronger educational infrastructure—characterized by lower pupil–teacher ratios, higher enrolment (especially at the higher secondary level), lower dropout rates, and greater household spending on education—experience significantly lower rates of child marriage for both girls and boys. Socio-economic indicators such as higher Human Development Index (HDI), life expectancy, per capita income, and urbanization also correlate negatively with child marriage prevalence, while infant mortality rates and the percentage of the Hindu population show positive associations. The findings highlight the importance of investing in education and socio-economic development, alongside culturally sensitive awareness campaigns, to effectively reduce child marriage and promote children’s rights and overall human development in India.