Which factor has contributed to the decline of traditional arranged marriages in India?

Which factor has contributed to the decline of traditional arranged marriages in India?

• A. Increased access to higher education for women.
• B. Increased agency of women in spousal selection and changing societal norms.
• C. Globalization of media.
• D. Government policies restricting arranged marriages.

Answer: (B)

Greater agency for women in choosing their partners and shifting societal norms around marriage explain the decline in traditional arranged marriages. When women gain education, economic independence, and exposure to different relationship models, they have more say in whom they marry and families increasingly accept or even expect that choice. This empowerment changes the way matches are formed, moving away from arrangement purely by families toward arrangements that involve consent and mutual preference. Global media also spread diverse ideas about love and partnership, reinforcing the idea that individual choice matters. In contrast, government policies restricting arranged marriages aren’t the main driver here, and such broad restrictions aren’t the defining force behind this social shift.

Greater agency for women in choosing their partners and shifting societal norms around marriage explain the decline in traditional arranged marriages. When women gain education, economic independence, and exposure to different relationship models, they have more say in whom they marry and families increasingly accept or even expect that choice. This empowerment changes the way matches are formed, moving away from arrangement purely by families toward arrangements that involve consent and mutual preference. Global media also spread diverse ideas about love and partnership, reinforcing the idea that individual choice matters. In contrast, government policies restricting arranged marriages aren’t the main driver here, and such broad restrictions aren’t the defining force behind this social shift.