Live-in Relationships as a Challenge to the Traditional Marriage System:  A Sociological Study

Author(s)	Dr. Krishnaji Maruti Desai
Country	India
Abstract	Marriage has historically functioned as a central institution regulating sexuality, reproduction, kinship, inheritance, and social order. In India, marriage is deeply embedded within religious norms, caste structures, and family systems. However, the rise of live-in relationships in recent decades signals a transformation in patterns of intimacy and partnership. This study examines live-in relationships as a sociological phenomenon and analyses whether they pose a structural challenge to the traditional marriage system or represent adaptive modernisation. The research adopts a descriptive and analytical design based on secondary data, judicial decisions, census reports, and sociological literature. The study is theoretically grounded in Structural Functionalism, Conflict Theory, Feminist Theory, and Symbolic Interactionism. Findings suggest that live-in relationships challenge ritual legitimacy, permanence, and patriarchal structures associated with marriage. However, they do not entirely replace marriage; rather, they redefine its expectations toward companionship, equality, and individual autonomy.
Keywords	Live-in Relationship, Marriage Institution, Social Change, Urbanisation, Gender Equality, Modernisation, Indian Family System
Field	Sociology
Published In	Volume 8, Issue 2, March-April 2026
Published On	2026-03-05

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