The proportion of unmarried persons within the age bracket of 15-29 years has increased to 23 per cent in 2019 from 17.2 per cent in 2011, according to a Government survey.
As per the National Youth Policy 2014, those aged 15 to 29 years are classified as youth.
The latest report of the National Statistical Office stated that the percentage share of the youth population (15-29 years) who are never married has shown an increasing trend in the male population from 20.8 per cent in 2011 to 26.1 per cent in 2019 and a similar trend has been observed in case of the female population.
The proportion of unmarried females rose from 13.5 per cent in 2011 to 19.9 per cent.
In 2019, the highest percentage share of youth population who are never married have been observed in the States/UTs of Jammu & Kashmir followed by Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Punjab and the lowest have been observed in the States/UTs of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, it stated.
However, the report did not attribute any reason for rising in the proportion of unmarried youth.It stated that early marriage in India has been declining over time.
