NEW DELHI: The Centre told Parliament on Wednesday it has no plan to reduce the age of consent for sex in consensual relationships.
In a written reply to CPI MP Binoy Viswam's question in the Rajya Sabha on whether it is considering changing this age to 16 years from the present 18, women and child development minister Smriti Irani said the question "does not arise". "The Pocso Act, 2012... enacted... to safeguard children from sexual abuse and sexual offences... clearly defines a child as any person below the age of 18 years," she said. The response gains significance as it firmly puts forth the government's position in the ongoing debate.
