Growing Incidence of Divorce in Indian Cities: A Study of Mumbai

Ajay Kumar Singh, International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS)
Rabindra Kumar Sinha, International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS)

In the recent years, a steady increase in incidence of divorce has been noticed in Mumbai Metropolis. It was observed that between 1991-96 it increased by 17 percent which further increased to 34 percent in 2001, indicating a rise of 56 percent during the decade. This paper is concerned with both exploratory as well as analytical goals. It tries to explore the factors and to identify the type of persons who go for divorce. An attempt has been made to explore the reasons of divorce and its consequences. Data collected from the family court in Mumbai reveals that divorce occurs during early years of marriage. Cruelty and Desertion stands out to be the most important reasons for divorce, followed by Adultery, temperamental differences, sexual dissatisfaction. Partners with higher age difference have experienced greater adjustment problems. In-depth interviews revealed that there was greater degree of incompatibility between spouses with different religion.