Akansha singh, Bhopal: From marriage and divorce to inheritance and live-in relationships, the new law brings several personal matters under one legal framework Gujarat has taken a major step towards implementing a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) after President Droupadi Murmu gave her assent to the state’s Uniform Civil Code, 2026. With this, Gujarat has become the second state in India after Uttarakhand to bring a UCC law into the legislative framework.
What Is the UCC About?
The Uniform Civil Code aims to create a common set of rules for personal matters such as marriage, divorce, inheritance, succession and live-in relationships. The idea is to have common legal provisions instead of different personal-law rules governing these matters. However, the law will not automatically become operational just because it has received presidential approval. The Gujarat government will have to issue a separate notification specifying when the law will come into force.
How Did Gujarat Reach This Point?
The Gujarat Assembly passed the UCC Bill on March 24, 2026, following an extended debate in the House. The legislation came after a committee headed by retired Supreme Court judge Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai submitted its report to the state government.
The President’s assent was subsequently granted on September 17, 2026, according to the official record. The legislation was then published through the state’s official gazette.
What Could Change Under the Law?
The UCC provides for mandatory registration of marriages and prohibits a person from entering into another marriage while their existing marriage is still valid.
It also lays down common provisions relating to divorce, inheritance and succession. The law provides equal inheritance rights for sons and daughters.
Another significant area covered by the legislation is live-in relationships. Such relationships are brought within a legal registration framework, with provisions concerning their registration and termination. Children born from such relationships are also given legal protection and rights.
Who Will the Law Apply To?
The law is intended to apply across Gujarat, including certain provisions for Gujarat residents living outside the state. However, Scheduled Tribes and certain constitutionally protected communities have been kept outside its scope.
What Happens Next?
The President’s assent completes an important constitutional step, but the implementation process is not over yet. The Gujarat government will now need to issue the necessary notification and frame the required rules before the UCC becomes fully operational.
The development makes Gujarat the second state after Uttarakhand to move from the UCC debate to an enacted state-level legal framework, making its implementation and its impact on personal laws a significant issue to watch.