5 Key Takeaways
- Gujarat became the second Indian state after Uttarakhand to receive presidential assent for a Uniform Civil Code, with President Droupadi Murmu approving the legislation on October 2, 2026.
- The Gujarat Assembly passed the Uniform Civil Code Bill in March 2026 after a seven-and-a-half-hour debate, during which Congress legislators walked out and demanded referral to a Select Committee.
- The UCC proposes a common legal framework for marriage, divorce, succession, and live-in relationships regardless of religion, replacing community-specific personal laws.
- Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel defended the law as ensuring equal rights and benefiting women, while opposition parties called it anti-Muslim and politically motivated, and AAP raised concerns about tribal communities.
- Gujarat must now notify rules for the UCC before it takes effect, and the implementation process will determine how provisions on registration, documentation, and enforcement apply in practice.
Legal Milestone
Gujarat Becomes Second Indian State to Get Approval for Uniform Civil Code
On October 2, 2026, Gujarat reached a significant legal milestone: it became only the second Indian state after Uttarakhand to receive presidential assent for a Uniform Civil Code. President Droupadi Murmu gave her assent to the Gujarat legislation, clearing the way for the state government to notify the rules needed to bring the law into effect.
For many readers, the term Uniform Civil Code, or UCC, refers to a common set of laws governing personal matters such as marriage, divorce, succession, and live-in relationships. Instead of different religious communities being governed by their own personal laws, a UCC applies the same legal framework to all citizens irrespective of religion. In India, this idea has been debated for decades. Proponents say it ensures equality, especially for women; opponents argue it may erode religious and cultural autonomy.
Gujarat’s Journey Through the Legislature
Gujarat’s journey to this point began in the state legislature. The Gujarat Assembly passed the Uniform Civil Code Bill in March 2026 after a marathon seven-and-a-half-hour discussion. The bill was adopted by voice vote. Before that vote, Congress legislators staged a walkout and demanded that the Speaker refer the bill to a Select Committee for closer examination.
“This Bill has been introduced for the sisters and daughters of Gujarat. The state has taken a step towards accelerating the pace of a developed India by 2047 through the UCC. This bill ensures that no community is discriminated against. It does not take away anyone’s rights or restrict anyone’s freedom.”
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel
The bill proposes a common legal framework to govern marriage, divorce, succession and live-in relationships irrespective of religion. That broad scope has drawn both support and sharp criticism. Opposition parties called the legislation “anti-Muslim” and alleged that the government passed it for electoral gain. Opposition leaders also claimed the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party fast-tracked the measure to tackle anti-incumbency ahead of local body elections.
“This Bill is against our society and will not benefit us. We believe in the Quran and Sharia, which is why we are opposing the Bill. If the government is concerned about Muslim women, it should provide justice to Bilkis Bano and take action against the welcome given to her accused.”
Imran Khedawala, Gujarat Congress MLA
AAP MLA Chatar Vasavane raised a different concern: the status of tribal communities under the new law. He told India Today TV that the government brought the bill solely for its electoral interests. “Some clarity is essential. The government has not clarified which laws will apply to tribal women who marry into other communities,” he said.
Following Uttarakhand’s Example
Gujarat is not the first state to move in this direction. Uttarakhand became the first state in the country to implement the Uniform Civil Code in February 2024. The implementation of the UCC was one of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s top promises in its 2022 Uttarakhand Assembly election manifesto.
What Happens Next
With President Murmu’s assent now in place, the next step in Gujarat is procedural but critical. The state government will announce the rules for the UCC, and the law will come into effect only after those rules are issued. The text of the law may be settled, but the rule-making process will determine how its provisions are applied on the ground, including registration, documentation, and enforcement mechanisms.
The development is likely to keep the UCC debate at the center of Indian politics. Supporters view Gujarat’s move as progress toward a more uniform legal system and a step toward the stated goal of a developed India by 2047. Critics, however, continue to raise questions about religious freedom, tribal customary rights, and whether the law was driven more by political timing than by legal reform.
For now, Gujarat has cleared the legislative and constitutional hurdle. The state now moves from lawmaking to implementation, and the rules it notifies will shape how the Uniform Civil Code works in practice for millions of residents.
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