Authentic Past Paper Standard Evaluation
The institution of child marriage started in which period?
Solution & Analysis
Answer: B
Concept
Social institutions and customs often undergo significant shifts due to the arrival of new ruling groups and the fusion of differing cultural practices.Explanation
Historians trace the significant start and increasing prevalence of child marriage to the Kushan period (1st to 3rd centuries CE). This era saw a synthesis of Indian and Central Asian customs.Logical Breakup
Logic 1: The influx of foreign tribes and political instability led to a desire to 'protect' the purity of brides and secure family alliances early.
Logic 2: While marriage was always a key institution, the specific push towards marrying off children (pre-puberty) became a documented social feature in this period.
Logic 3: This practice further hardened during the Gupta and Post-Gupta periods, becoming a standard social norm.