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Marriage of Hindu widows legalized

Changed the legal marriageable age for boys and girls in India. Amended in 1949 and again in 1978.

This act raised the age of consent for sexual intercourse for all girls, married or unmarried, from ten to twelve years of age in all jurisdictions. Now, violators were subject to criminal prosecution of rape.
Also official known as the "Indian…

In 1861, the British began enforcing Section 377 of their penal code, which could punish those who committed sodomy or other homosexual acts with life in prison.

William Bentinck, Governor-General of the company from 1828, addresses the issue of whether to intervene.