Karnataka has reported the highest number of child marriages 185 in the country in 2020 and its 66% more than 111 cases recorded in 2019, according to data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB). Assam came a distant second with 138 child marriages in 2020, West Bengal 98, Tamil Nadu 77 and Telangana 62.

According to the Karnataka Women and child welfare department, 2,074 child marriages were prevented between February and November 2020 when Covid-19 pandemic was at its peak. The highest number of child marriages averted was in Ballari (218), followed by Mysuru (177), Belagavi (131) and Chikkaballapura and Chitradurga (107 each). In the same period, 20 child marriages cases were prevented in Bengaluru.

In the same period, FIRs were registered in 108 child marriages across the state. As per data, the highest number of child marriages were conducted in Hassan (26), followed by Mandya (25), Mysuru (24), Belagavi (19) and Ramanagara (13). In Bengaluru city, five child marriages were held in the same period.