Consanguinity in twenty-first century India

Consanguineous marriage, which involves the union of close biological relatives, is a global practice, including in India. Consanguineous marriage and its effect remained an interest to the geneticists, medical and social scientists. Numerous studies have been conducted to delve into these aspects of consanguinity. This review paper seeks to examine various dimensions of consanguinity in twenty-first-century India. We conducted thorough searches on PUBMED, Web of Knowledge, Google Scholar, and JSTOR specifically for articles on consanguinity in India since 2001. It was observed that the rate of consanguinity was approximately 10.0% which varies state-wise, and the trend indicates a decrease. Socio-demographic characteristics such as age at marriage, educational attainments, place of residence, and economic condition are the major contributing factors. Religious beliefs, especially Islamic views, significantly affect the prevalence of consanguineous marriage. Many studies reveal that consanguinity helps to lower dowry, maintain family peace, and increase social security within groups. Recent studies reveal that consanguinity still affects reproductive outcomes and increases congenital and medical disorders, while the inclusion of external factors reduces the effect of consanguinity. Studies show consanguinity reduces the overall strength of a population and increases the selection pressure within it. This review helps in understanding the effects of consanguinity among concerned couples and family members and encourages policymakers to motivate them to seek genetic counselling for a better future, while also involving policymakers