Paper Title
"MARITAL RAPE IN INDIA: A CONSTITUTIONAL AND HUMAN RIGHTS CRISIS CALLING FOR URGENT REFORM"

Abstract
Marital rape remains deeply entrenched in India, in which the legal system of the country has continued to be exempt from criminal prosecution of marital rape under the the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita(BNS). This paper critically evaluates the legal, constitutional, and human rights dimensions of marital rape and asserts that it is a gross violation of fundamental rights enshrined in the Indian Constitution and international human rights frameworks. Analyzing judicial precedents, constitutional provisions, and sociocultural factors, this paper supports immediate legal reform in criminalizing marital rape to bring Indian jurisprudence in alignment with equality, dignity, and autonomy. The recommendations of this paper include actionable suggestions in the spheres of legislation, judiciary, and social sectors. Keywords - Marital Rape,BNS,,Equality, Dignity, Human Rights Precedents and Reforms.