<p>In order to make rape laws gender neutral, the government has cleared a proposal to substitute the term "sexual assault" in place of "rape" and widen the scope of the offence in the Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill, 2012, it was announced Friday.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The union cabinet Thursday approved the proposal for the bill which will be introduced in the parliament in the coming monsoon session.<br /><br />The age of consent has been raised from 16 years to 18 years in case of sexual assault and the punishment will be minimum seven to 10 years, said officials.<br /><br />The bill proposes that sexual intercourse by a man with his wife under 16 years of age is not sexual assault.<br /><br />Provision for enhancement of punishment for making acid attack a specific offence have been made in the bill.<br /><br />The Law Commission of India in its 172nd Report on Review of Rape Laws as well the National Commission for Women had recommended stringent punishment for the offence of rape.</p>
<p>In order to make rape laws gender neutral, the government has cleared a proposal to substitute the term "sexual assault" in place of "rape" and widen the scope of the offence in the Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill, 2012, it was announced Friday.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The union cabinet Thursday approved the proposal for the bill which will be introduced in the parliament in the coming monsoon session.<br /><br />The age of consent has been raised from 16 years to 18 years in case of sexual assault and the punishment will be minimum seven to 10 years, said officials.<br /><br />The bill proposes that sexual intercourse by a man with his wife under 16 years of age is not sexual assault.<br /><br />Provision for enhancement of punishment for making acid attack a specific offence have been made in the bill.<br /><br />The Law Commission of India in its 172nd Report on Review of Rape Laws as well the National Commission for Women had recommended stringent punishment for the offence of rape.</p>