Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar played a crucial role in raising the age of consent for girls in India through the Act of 1860. The details are as follows:

Background:
During the colonial period, India witnessed a rise in the number of child marriages, which were often forced and resulted in the exploitation of young girls. The British authorities recognized this problem and introduced various laws to protect women and girls from abuse.

Efforts of Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar:
Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, a social reformer and educationist, campaigned for the raising of the age of consent for girls. He argued that girls should not be married off before they reached puberty, as it put their health and well-being at risk. He also highlighted the fact that young girls were often unable to give informed consent to marriage.

Vidyasagar's efforts led to the introduction of the Age of Consent Bill in 1860, which proposed to raise the age of consent for girls from 12 to 14. However, the bill faced opposition from conservative sections of society, who argued that it was a violation of tradition and religion.

The Act of 1860:
Despite the opposition, the Age of Consent Bill was passed in 1860, raising the age of consent for girls to 10. While this was still a low age by modern standards, it was a significant improvement over the previous age limit of 12.

The Act of 1860 also introduced other provisions to protect women and girls from exploitation, such as criminalizing rape and prohibiting the abduction of women for marriage.

Legacy of Vidyasagar:
Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar's efforts to raise the age of consent for girls were part of his broader campaign for social reform and education in India. He believed that education was the key to empowering women and improving their status in society.

Vidyasagar's legacy continues to inspire social reformers and activists in India today, who work to promote gender equality and women's rights.

The supreme court on Wednesday tracked provisions in indian penal code since its enactment in 1860 on the issue of giving legitimacy to sexual intercourse between the husband and minor wife