Gujarat UCC Bill 2026 Passed: Becomes India's Second UCC State

After a long debate lasting more than seven hours, the Gujarat Legislative Assembly passed the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill on March 24, 2026, by majority.

Gujarat’s Uniform Civil Code Bill proposes to create a uniform legal framework to regulate marriage, divorce, inheritance, and live-in relationships, irrespective of religion.

This proposed law, named ‘Gujarat Uniform Civil Code, 2026’, will be applicable across the entire state and to residents of Gujarat who are living outside the state boundaries.

However, the bill clearly states that this code will not apply to members of Scheduled Tribes (ST) and certain groups whose traditional rights are protected under the Constitution.

With the passage of this bill, Gujarat has become the second state in the country after Uttarakhand to adopt UCC. Uttarakhand became the first state to pass the UCC Bill in February, 2024.

Ranjana Prakash Desai Committee on Uniform Civil Code of Gujarat Government

Earlier in the day, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel introduced this bill; it was introduced after a committee formed by the state government had submitted its final report on the implementation of UCC.

Retired Supreme Court judge Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai is the chairperson of that committee, which was constituted to examine the implementation of Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in Gujarat.

This committee was established in early 2025 with the objective of preparing a draft law, and it submitted its final report on UCC to the state government in March, 2026.

The panel includes retired IAS officer C. L. Meena, advocate R. C. Kodekar, former Vice-Chancellor Dr. Dakshesh Thakar, and social worker Mrs. Geeta Shroff.

Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai also served as the head of the committee that drafted the UCC for Uttarakhand.

About ‘Gujarat Uniform Civil Code, 2026’

In the “Objectives and Reasons” of the bill, it is stated that the aim of this code is to create a uniform legal framework. In its provisions, the bill includes registration of live-in relationships and formal procedures for their termination.

Additionally, it prohibits polygamy, stating that no person can marry again as long as their spouse is alive. Under this code, a marriage will be considered valid only when neither party has a living spouse at the time of marriage.

Provisions related to UCC in the Indian Constitution

Article 44 included in Part IV of the Indian Constitution acknowledges the need for UCC, but it is not mandatory and has been left to the discretion of the government.

UCC is often seen as a step towards a more secular and just society, in line with the ideals enshrined in the Indian Constitution.

After India’s independence, the Indian Parliament passed the 'Hindu Code Bills' in 1955-56 to codify Hindu personal laws. However, the 1985 'Shah Bano case' brought the debate on Uniform Civil Code (UCC) back into the spotlight, in which the Supreme Court strongly advocated its adoption.

Since then, cases like 'Sarla Mudgal' (1995) and 'Shayara Bano' (2017) have further emphasized the need for UCC.

States with Uniform Civil Code

Goa is the only state that has UCC, which retained the Portuguese Civil Code of 1867 after its integration in 1961.

After the implementation of the Constitution, Uttarakhand has become the first state in India to implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC). The state government issued a notification in this regard on January 27, 2025.