India
India's age of consent for sex is now 18, following a bill moved by the Central Cabinet in Parliament on 25 April 2012 except in the state of Manipur, where it is 14. The bill has come under sharp criticism from many sects of society. If the partners are married to each other they may legally engage in sexual activity at a lower age (13 in Manipur and 15 elsewhere).
The Kerala High Court, in 2004, succeeded in recommending the state government increase the age of consent to 18. The Law Commission of India, has recommended the federal government raise the age of consent to 16 from 15, regardless of marriage. However, none of those proposals have been considered by any of the (federal / state) legislatures till date.
An old British-era law banning "carnal intercourse against the order of nature" was used to prosecute people for having anal or oral sex, though prosecutions are rare. That law (Section 377, Indian Penal Code Act 1860) was constitutionally challenged at the Delhi High Court for violating the human rights of sexual minorities. But after the Delhi High Court declared some parts of the law unconstitutional on the issue, the age of consent for consensual homosexual sex is 18. See LGBT rights in India.
Read more about this topic: Ages Of Consent In Asia
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