What consent means
Consent means agreeing to something freely, without pressure. It applies to everyday things like hugs, borrowing a phone, being tagged in a photo or sharing a secret, as well as to physical closeness.
Real consent is freely given, can be changed at any time, is informed (you know what you are agreeing to), is enthusiastic, and is specific (yes to one thing is not yes to everything).
Silence, saying nothing, or not fighting back is not consent. Someone who is asleep, drunk or scared cannot give consent.
Healthy relationships
This applies to friendships, family and romantic relationships. In a healthy relationship, both people feel respected, can say no, can spend time with other friends and can be themselves.
You talk through disagreements without fear. You do not have to share passwords or prove your love.
Warning signs
Checking your phone, controlling who you meet or what you wear, extreme jealousy, putting you down, threatening to hurt themselves or you, or pressuring you into physical closeness or sharing photos are all red flags.
Pressure can sound like: If you loved me, you would. Or: Everyone else does it. You never owe anyone physical closeness or pictures.
Unhealthy behaviour can happen in any relationship, between any genders.
What the law says
In India, the law treats everyone under 18 as a child. The POCSO Act makes sexual activity with anyone under 18 a crime, and it protects children of all genders.
Creating, asking for or sharing sexual images of anyone under 18 is also a serious crime, even if the person in the image agreed or is your own age.
The law is there to protect young people from harm. If someone is pressuring or hurting you, you can get help.