Govt lowers age of sexual consent to 16. Do you agree?

GN Bureau | March 14, 2013



Government has decided to fix the age of consent to 16 years. It has also said that the definition of rape will now be seen in context with crime against women and will be different from other sexual offences. Overriding the objections raised by the ministry of women and child development (WCD) on the age of consent, the GoM has decided to stick to 16 years instead of 18. The GoM is of the view that sexual awareness and related activities have increased today. WCD minister Krishna Tirath had written to the PM expressing her dissatisfaction at not being consulted when the draft was being prepared for the anti-rape law.

While much is being debated on the age of consent, one is left wondering when one thinks that teenagers can engage in sexual activity at 16 but can’t marry until they turn 18. Is the government right in lowering the age of consent?
 

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