The Supreme Court has fixed November 12 as the date it will hear arguments regarding lowering the age of consent to 16 years. The age of consent in India is currently 18 years. Consequently, the Central Government has defended the statutory age of consent of 18 years, asserting that it is a “deliberate, well-considered, and coherent” policy choice to protect minors.
However, Supreme Court Amicus Curiae India Jaising wants the Supreme Court to lower the age of consent to 16. This has sparked outrage from Indians on social media. They believe any attempt to alter the age of consent will be disastrous.
Popular voices such as Anand Ranganathan and Swati Goel have been vocal regarding their opposition to the same. The latter has been particularly active in orchestrating an organised movement against the move. The Sewa Nyaya Utthan Foundation, an initiative by Swati Goel and Sanjeev Newar, has published a study highlighting the danger of lowering the age of consent.
What Swati Goel and Anand Ranganathan say about lowering the age of consent
During an appearance on News18, Swati Goel said, “If there’s a fundamental right to sexual autonomy, then why stop at 16? Why not 15? Why not 14? 9? The whole argument is based on what teens want, what children want. You are opening the gates to advertising it, thereby, influencing choice. The moment you say sex at 16 is allowed, you are encouraging content makers, OTT platforms to bring out one web series after another promoting it.”
If ‘sexual autonomy’ is their argument to legalise sex with 16 year old, then why stop at 16? Why not 15. 14? 9?
— Swati Goel Sharma (@swati_gs) October 28, 2025
The moment you allow it, you are encouraging content makers to sexualise teens, particularly school-going children
My views at @ShivaniGupta_5’s show on @CNNnews18 pic.twitter.com/OHblm4BOJv
Anand Ranganathan described the arguments in favour of lowering the age of sexual consent as “shockingly unscientific and illogical”. He said, “They say lower the age because adolescents today attain puberty earlier. By this logic, should we allow sex at 9 if puberty is reached at 9?”
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The author and scholar added, “They say adolescents today are capable of forming romantic and sexual relationships of their choice. What silling reasoning is this? If kids at 10 have sex with mutual consent, does it make it alright?”
The arguments put forth by lawyers advocating for reducing the age of sexual consent to 16 are shockingly unscientific and illogical, and it would be tragic if the Supreme court was swayed by them.
— Anand Ranganathan (@ARanganathan72) October 27, 2025
My views, on why this is as much a matter of science as it is of law: pic.twitter.com/VwhIKnBmDD
Former NCPCR Chairperson and current member of the NHRC, Priyank Kanoongo, said, “Giving adolescents permission for sexual vice will only aid those who prey on them. It is our duty to oppose this in the interest of a developed and safe Bharat.”
Indians firmly oppose the lowering of age of sexual consent
One user accused advocate Indira Jaising of wanting to empower pedophiles. Policeman Pranav Mahajan further added that it is incomprehensible why the Judiciary entertains such individuals.
Journalist Avatans Kumar asked whether allowing preschoolers to undergo sex change surgery is next on the agenda after lowering the age of consent to 16.
Dr. @ARanganathan72 is right. Whats next after reducing age of sexual consent to 16? Allowing preschoolers to undergo sexchange surgery? https://t.co/Zu0HZaxw5x
— Avatans Kumar 🕉 (@avatans) October 28, 2025
X user Manisha Singh said that the move “would gift predators a free pass & cripple our youth at their most vulnerable stage.”
Thread: Neuroscience Says 25. Public Health Says 20. Predators Say 16. Who Will Bharat Listen To? 🧵
— Manisha Singh (@ManiYogini) October 29, 2025
Reducing age of consent from 18 → 16 is not “progress.”
It is a direct assault on neuroscience, public health, and Bharat’s civilizational safeguards.
It would gift predators a… pic.twitter.com/LjOS1aDf5P
High Court Advocate Mrunalini Deshmukh said, “If 18 is the age when one can vote, sign a contract, or drive, and 21 or even 25 is when one is deemed mature enough to consume alcohol, then why is there a push to lower the age of consent to 16 — and that too, only for sexual interaction?”
There is clearly huge opposition towards lowering the age of sexual consent to 16 years. Indians by and large do not want any tinkering with the age. Furthermore, the Central Government has been extremely consistent in protecting minors from sexual predators. Therefore, it’s unlikely that the Supreme Court will go out of its way to force through such a controversial agenda. Nevertheless, the Judiciary has its own mind.
