West Bengal recorded 60,000 underage institutional deliveries in first six months of 2026: CM
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari reported 60,000 underage institutional deliveries in the first half of 2026, citing child marriage as a primary cause. The government plans to enforce strict legal action against offenders and withhold welfare benefits from families involved in child marriages.
Why it matters
The high rate of underage pregnancy highlights a significant public health and social crisis, prompting a controversial shift toward punitive government policy.
Expressing grave concern over the high prevalence of child marriages resulting in underage pregnancies and deliveries in the State, West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Monday (September 7, 2026) said that the State had recorded nearly 60,000 underage institutional deliveries in the first six months of 2026.
Details of underage institutional deliveries from January 1, 2026 to June 30, 2026 had been obtained from the State Health Department, and the numbers were alarming, Mr. Adhikari said.
“As a result of the previous government, we are now number one in two criteria across the country — marriage of girls below 18 years of age, and deliveries before 18 years of age. These numbers are so high that there aren’t enough jails in which to put these people,” the Chief Minister said, addressing media persons at the State Secretariat.
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