§3
Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961
Giving or taking dowry: minimum 5 years in prison, plus a fine of ₹15,000 or the dowry's value, whichever is more.
01
Groom's Age
The market is not kind about this one.
02
Groom's Qualification
The single biggest lever in the whole negotiation.
Did he study abroad?
03
Profession
What the biodata will say in bold.
Is he settled abroad?
Where does the boy live?
04
Annual Income
CTC, package, "in-hand" - call it what you like.
05
City Tier
Where the boy is "settled".
06
"Family Status" - ख़ानदान
The most ridiculous variable. Yet very real.
The actual reality
Whatever the calculator shows,
the only legal answer is zero.
§4
Mere Demand is Punishable
Even asking, without a single rupee changing hands, is punishable by 6 months to 2 years in prison.
§80
BNS - Dowry Death
If a woman dies under suspicious circumstances within 7 years of marriage and dowry harassment is proven, that's 7 years to life. Replaced IPC §304B.
§85
BNS - Cruelty
Cruelty by a husband or his relatives, including any harassment over dowry, carries up to 3 years in prison. Replaced IPC §498A.
If you, or someone you know, is being harassed for dowry:
The District Dowry Prohibition Officer in your area is legally required to take your complaint. You don't need to know which section. Just walk in and report it. Here is the full process →
Read the law, not the joke
Anonymous, one tap
What brought you here?
No names, no accounts, nothing stored about you personally. We ask because nobody has decent data on how dowry expectations actually work, and this site is in an unusual position to collect some.