Chapter II of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 outlines the conditions for a valid Hindu marriage:
Consent: The marriage must be entered into willingly by both parties
Monogamy: Both parties must not have a spouse living at the time of marriage.
Age: The bride must be at least 18 years old, and the groom must be at least 21 years old.
Mental Capacity: Both parties must be of sound mind and give their consent freely.
Prohibited Relationships: The parties must not be closely related (e.g., siblings, first cousins).
Section 5 – Conditions for a Hindu marriage
Condition for a Hindu Marriage.- A marriage may be solemnized between any two Hindus,
if the following conditions are fulfilled, namely:
(i) neither party has a spouse living at the time of the marriage;
(ii) at the time of the marriage, neither party,-
(a) is incapable of giving a valid consent of it in consequence of unsoundness of mind; or
(b) though capable of giving a valid consent has been suffering from mental disorder of such a kind or to such an extent as to be unfit for marriage and the procreation of children; or
(c) has been subject to recurrent attacks of insanity or epilepsy;
(iii) the bridegroom has completed the age of twenty one years and the bride the age of eighteen
years at the time of the marriage; (iv) the parties are not within the degrees of prohibited relationship unless the custom or usage
governing each of them permits of a marriage between the two;
(v) the parties are not sapindas of each other, unless the custom or usage governing each of them permits of a marriage between the two;
(vi) (Omitted)
Section 6 Guardianship in marriage
Guardianship in Marriage.- (Omitted by Marriage Laws (Amendment) Act, 1976
Section 7 – Ceremonies for a Hindu marriage
Ceremonies for a Hindu marriage.-(1) A Hindu marriage may be solemnized in accordance with the customary rites and ceremonies of either party thereto.
(2) Where such rites and ceremonies include the saptapadi (that is, the taking of seven steps by the bridegroom and the bride jointly before the sacred fire), the marriage becomes complete and binding when the seventh step is taken.
Section 8 – Registration of Hindu marriages
Registration of Hindu Marriages.-(1) For the purpose of facilitating the proof of Hindu marriages, the State Government may make rules providing that the parties to any such marriage may have the particulars relating to their marriage entered in such manner and subject to such
condition as may be prescribed in a Hindu Marriage Register kept for the purpose.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), the State Government may, if it is of
opinion that it is necessary or expedient so to do, provide that the entering of the particulars referred
to in sub-section (1) shall be compulsory in the State or in any part thereof, whether in all cases or in such cases as may be specified and where any such direction has been issued, and person contravening any rule made in this behalf shall be punishable with fine which may extend to twenty-five rupees.
(3) All rules made under this section shall be laid before the State Legislature, as soon as may be,
after they are made.
(4) The Hindu Marriage Register shall at all reasonable times be open for inspection, and shall be admissible as evidence of the statements therein contained
and certified extracts therefrom shall, on application, be given by the Registrar on payment to him of the prescribed fee.
(5) Notwithstanding anything contained in this section, the validity of any Hindu marriage shall in no way be affected by the omission to make the entry.