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There is no law banning inter-caste marriages in India.

Hindu Spouse

Last updated on Apr 23, 2026

If you want to be a Hindu spouse and marry under the Hindu Marriage Act, you have to be one of the following set of persons:1

  • Any person who is a Hindu by religion. This includes Veerashaiva, Lingayat or a follower of the Brahmo, Prarthana, or Arya Samaj.
  • Buddhist, Jain or Sikh by religion.
  • Any other person to which the Act applies who is not a Muslim, Christian, Parsi, or Jew by religion.

If you are governed by Hindu law or custom or usage, then you can marry under the Hindu Marriage Act. It does not apply to you, if you are a member of any Scheduled Tribe, unless the Central Government has explicitly directed it.

  1. Section 2, The Hindu Marriage Act, 1955. [↩]

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