Towards Equitable Protection: The Legal and Societal Invisibility of Unmarried Relationships and Dating Violence in India

In India, unmarried romantic relationships, and especially cohabitation, are cultural taboos for which women unequivocally bear the brunt of societal stigma and moral scrutiny. Although India’s Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 (PWDV) explicitly includes women in unmarried relationships, deeply entrenched socio-cultural bias permeates institutional mechanisms, impeding support, legal assistance, and protection for unmarried women. The 2025 state mandate to register unmarried relationships involving cohabitation signals a shift towards increased moral policing and infringement of privacy and autonomy. Such repressive rules risk being counterproductive; there is a need for regulations that prioritize women’s empowerment and broader societal changes over mere protection and stricter laws. This policy brief addresses this critical gap by advocating for approaches that centre women’s autonomy, inclusion, and long-term social transformation.