In a country where there are daily reports of children being sexually assaulted, trafficked, blackmailed, or abused — often by people they know — the recent debates about reducing the age of consent in India are deeply troubling.

My main concern, as a mother of two, is that lowering the age of consent threatens the safety and well-being of our children. I am not a legal expert or policymaker, but as a parent, I feel compelled to speak out because this debate raises urgent questions about how we protect minors.

This debate, that India might consider lowering the age of consent from 18 to 16, or even younger, under the pretext of “acknowledging teenage realities", getting highlighted in newspapers and TV every day, is not just ill-conceived, it is mischievous and dangerous.

To provide context for the entire debate, Indira Jaising, a senior advocate and amicus curiae, has petitioned the Supreme Court to lower the statutory age of consent under the POCSO Act from 18 to 16 years. Her argument is that the current law criminalises consensual sexual activity among adolescents aged 16 to 18, infringing on their autonomy and privacy rights. She has also referred to data showing a rise in POCSO prosecutions involving teenagers (16-18). Another point is that puberty/adolescence is changing; she claims minors are “maturing earlier than before" and therefore suggests the law doesn’t reflect social/biological realities. As reported, the Supreme Court has scheduled daily hearings on this plea to begin on 12 November 2025.

Adolescence is a confusing and delicate stage of life. Young people are curious and highly susceptible to influence from peers, from the internet, and tragically, sometimes........

© News18