Child Marriage Hotspot:
Child marriages in Madhya Pradesh have risen sharply by 47% since 2020, with Damoh district emerging as the worst hotspot in 2025. Parliamentary data shows 538 cases recorded this year, the highest in five years. A persistent cluster of districts reporting disproportionately high child marriages, mainly in Bundelkhand, central MP, Gwalior–Chambal and tribal belts, indicating entrenched socio-economic vulnerabilities. MP saw cases rise from 366 (2020) to 538 (2025) — a 47% increase despite awareness campaigns.Damoh alone accounts for 21% of all child marriages in 2025, jumping from 33 cases in 2024 to 115 in 2025. Bundelkhand, tribal and economically backward districts dominate the list, signalling poverty-linked, region-specific persistence.
