Cabinet raises age of consent to 18, anti-rape Bill in LS on Tuesday

New Delhi: The Cabinet at its meeting in the evening on Monday agreed to raise the age of consent to 18. The new legislation was cleared after the Cabinet failed to achieve consensus on the anti-rape bill at the two all-party meetings held on Monday. Emerging from the meeting, Parliamentary Affairs Minister said that the Cabinet had agreed to raise the age of consent and also made some changes to the Bill, without diluting its essence.

"I am hopeful that the anti-rape Bill will be passed in Lok Sabha," he said.

Raising the age of consent to 18 means that consensual sex with a girl who is younger will be considered rape.

Emerging from the Cabinet meeting, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath said changes have been made to the Bill without diluting its essence.

Sources also said that clauses dealing with voyeurism and stalking in the Bill have been diluted.

The government is set to table the Bill in Lok Sabha on Tuesday.

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