Domestic violence refers to a pattern of abusive behavior in any relationship that is used by one partner to gain or maintain power and control over another partner. It is not limited to physical abuse alone but encompasses emotional, verbal, sexual, and economic abuse. In the Indian context, domestic violence is legally recognized under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 (PWDVA), which provides comprehensive remedies for women who are victims of abuse in domestic settings, including marital homes, shared households, or live-in relationships. Under this Act, domestic violence can include acts such as physical assault, intimidation, harassment, emotional cruelty, economic deprivation, and controlling behavior that adversely affects the victim’s mental or physical well-being. The Indian Penal Code (IPC) also indirectly addresses some aspects of domestic violence through various provisions such as Section 498A, which criminalizes cruelty by a husband or his relatives towards a wife. Cruelty under this section can include both physical harm and mental harassment, particularly related to dowry demands or other forms of coercion. Section 304B IPC deals with dowry deaths, while Sections 323, 324, and 506 IPC address physical injury, use of dangerous weapons, and criminal intimidation, which may arise in domestic violence