Uttarakhand Becomes the First State in India to Implement UCC

, Uttarakhand : Today, Uttarakhand has implemented the Uniform Civil Code (UCC). On January 27, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami launched the UCC portal at his official residence, making Uttarakhand the first state in India to do so. After the implementation of the UCC, all citizens of the state now have equal rights, said the Chief Minister. CM Dhami expressed his gratitude to the UCC committee and described the day as historic. He said that from this moment, all citizens of Uttarakhand now have equal rights. This was an emotional moment for him, he added. The Chief Minister also mentioned that the promise he made to the people of the state in 2022 has now been fulfilled. He was confident that the people of Uttarakhand would support him in this effort, and now, it has been successfully accomplished. After nearly three years, the moment has arrived when the UCC law is implemented. There will no longer be any discrimination based on religion, caste, or gender. Practices like Halal, triple talaq, polygamy, and child marriage will now be completely abolished. On January 20, the Dhami cabinet had approved the UCC regulations. The process began in May 2022 when CM Dhami formed an expert committee for the UCC. The committee submitted its report to the government on February 2, 2024. On March 8, 2024, the bill was passed in the state assembly. After passing the assembly, the bill was sent to the President for approval, and President Murmu gave her consent on March 12, 2024. Finally, on January 20, 2025, the Dhami Cabinet approved the UCC regulations.
What is the Uniform Civil Code? The Uniform Civil Code (UCC) seeks to apply the same laws for all citizens of a country, regardless of their religion. It aims to regulate laws related to marriage, divorce, adoption, inheritance, and succession under a common framework, ensuring equal treatment for all, irrespective of religion. Currently, different religious groups have their own separate laws on these matters. The Origin of the Uniform Civil Code The UCC was first introduced during British rule when the British government presented a report concerning evidence, crime, and contracts. The report emphasized the need for uniformity in the codification of laws in India and pointed out that personal laws of Hindus and Muslims were excluded from this codification. Why the Need for UCC The UCC was deemed necessary for ensuring equality in marriage, divorce, inheritance, and gender equality. The goal is to have uniform laws for all citizens on matters like marriage, divorce, adoption, and property division, regardless of religious identity.
With the implementation of UCC, polygamy will be prohibited, and the minimum age for girls’ marriage will be increased to ensure that they are able to graduate before marriage. Moreover, live-in relationships will now require a declaration, and parents will need to be informed. Marriage registration will also be mandatory, and couples who fail to register will not be able to avail government benefits. Countries Where UCC Is in Place While the debate on UCC is ongoing in India, several countries worldwide have already adopted it. These include developed nations like the United States, Ireland, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Turkey, Indonesia, Sudan, and Egypt.
Timeline of UCC in Uttarakhand
- May 27, 2022: Formation of the UCC Expert Committee
- February 2, 2024: Submission of the detailed UCC report
- March 8, 2024: Bill passed in the State Assembly
- March 12, 2024: Approval by the President of India
- October 18, 2024: Presentation of UCC regulations
- January 27, 2025: Implementation of UCC
Scope of UCC The UCC will apply to the entire state of Uttarakhand, except for Scheduled Tribes, and to Uttarakhand residents living outside the state as well.
Marriage Registration
- Marriages that took place between March 26, 2010, and the date of UCC’s implementation must be registered within six months.
- Marriages after the implementation must be registered within 60 days of the marriage.
Rules for Live-in Relationships under UCC Existing live-in relationships must be registered within one month of UCC’s implementation. New live-in relationships will need to be registered within one month of starting the relationship. Termination of Live-in Relationships Either partner can terminate the live-in relationship online or offline. If one partner requests, the registrar will only approve it based on the confirmation of the other partner. Inheritance and Wills under UCC Wills can be made in three ways: by filling out a form on the portal, uploading a handwritten or typed will, or recording and uploading a three-minute video will.
UCC Law
- The minimum age for men is 21 and for women, it is 18.
- Both parties must be mentally fit and able to give consent for marriage.
- Neither party should have a living spouse.
- Prohibited relationships will be invalid.
- Practices like polygamy, polyandry, Halala, Iddat, and triple talaq will be invalid.
- Marriage registration will be mandatory.
- Marriages that took place after March 27, 2010, must be registered, or only notification will be required.
- The marriage registration process will be available online and through Common Service Centers (CSC). The sub-registrar will decide within 15 days of receiving the application.