<P> Commonly in urban areas and increasingly in rural parts, parents now arrange for marriage - ready sons and daughters to meet with multiple potential spouses with an accepted right of refusal . These arranged marriages are effectively the result of a wide search by both the girl's family and the boy's family . Child marriages are also in steady decline and deemed unlawful in India (with legal age of marriage at 21 years for men and 18 years for women), so the term "arranged marriage" now increasingly refers to marriages between consenting adults well past the age of sexual maturity . Due to this, a strong distinction is now drawn by sociologists and policymakers between arranged marriages (which involve consenting adults that have choice and unhindered rights of refusal) and forced marriages . </P> <P> Another significant trend in arranged marriages is related to the loosening of traditional clan - bonds in India . Where potential spouses for sons and daughters were once identified through family and social relationships, they are increasingly being solicited through advertising because many urban parents no longer have the social reach that was a given before the rise of nuclear families in India . With the advent of the internet, this has led to the rise of matchmaking websites such as shaadi.com (shaadi is the Hindustani word for wedding), which claims to be the largest matrimonial service in the world . </P> <P> It is increasingly common in India for a couple that has met by themselves and are involved romantically to go through the process of an arranged marriage with that specific partner in mind . Since arranged marriages result in a deep meshing and unification of extended families and are believed to contribute to marital stability, many couples orchestrate their marriages with each other through the processes of an arranged marriage . These marriages are often referred to as "self - arranged marriages" or "love - arranged marriages" in India . </P> <P> Arranged marriages vary widely by region and community across the Indian subcontinent . The marriage process usually begin with a realization in the family that a child is old enough to marry . For a girl, it is during her graduation or early twenties; for a boy, it is after he is' settled', with a decent job and consistent earnings . The initiation can occur when a parent or a relative (such as an aunt or an elder sister or sister - in - law) initiates a conversation on the topic or the son / daughter approaches the parent / relative and expresses the desire to be married . This relative effectively acts as a sponsor, taking responsibility to get the boy / girl married to a good partner . </P>

What percentage of marriages are arranged in india