(1)

This Act may be called The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act , 2006.

(2)

It extends to the whole of India [***] [The words 'except the State of Jammu and Kashmir' omitted by Act 34 of 2019, s. 95 and the Fifth Schedule (w.e.f. 31-10-2019)]; and it applies also to all citizens of India without and beyond India:

Provided that nothing contained in this Act shall apply to the Renoncants of the Union territory of Pondicherry.

(3)

It shall come into force on such date as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint; and different dates may be appointed for different States and any reference in any provision to the commencement of this Act shall be construed in relation to any State as a reference to the coming into force of that provision in that State.