The Gujarat government introduced the 2026 Gujarat Uniform Civil Code Bill in the state Assembly on Wednesday, The Indian Express reported.
If passed, Gujarat would become the second Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled state to move towards implementing a common personal law framework, after Uttarakhand enacted a Uniform Civil Code in 2025.
On Wednesday, Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi tabled the bill, which proposes a common legal framework governing marriage, divorce, succession, live-in relationships and related matters for all residents, irrespective of religion, the Hindustan Times reported.
The Uniform Civil Code refers to a common set of laws governing marriage, divorce, succession and adoption for all citizens. Currently, such personal affairs of different religious and tribal groups are based on community-specific laws, largely derived from religious scripture.
The Gujarat bill is based on recommendations of a committee chaired by retired Supreme Court judge Ranjana Prakash Desai, whose report was submitted to Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Tuesday.
Patel said that the report was based on “detailed study, public consultations and visits across districts”, and claimed that the recommendations prioritise equal rights and the protection of women.
“The geographical and cultural diversity of Gujarat has also been kept in mind,” he added.
The proposed legislation will extend to the entire state and apply to residents living elsewhere in India or abroad, but will not apply to members of Scheduled Tribes or groups whose customary rights are protected under the Constitution, Hindustan Times reported.
Article 44 of the Constitution says that the state should “endeavour to secure for the citizens a Uniform Civil Code throughout the territory of India”. However, the provision is part of Directive Principles of State Policy and is thus not legally binding.
Introducing a common personal law has long been on the BJP’s agenda and several states governed by the Hindutva party have been taking steps towards implementing it.
In January 2025, BJP-ruled Uttarakhand became the first state to implement the Uniform Civil Code after independence. A common civil code has been in place in Goa since the Portuguese Civil Code was adopted in 1867.
In its campaign for the Uniform Civil Code in Uttarakhand, the BJP had mainly targeted Muslim personal law, arguing that it discriminated against women as it allows Muslim men to practice polygamy, inherit a greater share of property, initiate divorce and deny alimony.
Legal experts have said that Uttarakhand’s Uniform Civil Code is drawn primarily from Hindu personal law and could lead to the erasure of the personal law practices of minority communities.
Provisions of the bill
The 2026 Gujarat Uniform Civil Code Bill lays down uniform conditions for valid marriages, including a minimum age of 21 for men and 18 for women, valid consent and a prohibition on bigamy, The Indian Express reported.
It allows marriages to follow religious or customary ceremonies, but mandates registration, with penalties for non-registration or false declarations. It prohibits the dissolution of marriages outside court procedures and requires all divorce decrees to be registered.
The bill lists grounds for divorce such as cruelty, desertion, conversion of religion and mental illness. It also recognises the rights of women to maintenance, custody of children and alimony.
It makes registration of live-in relationships mandatory for couples in Gujarat, while keeping it optional for residents living outside the state, Hindustan Times reported. The registrar has been directed to ensure neither partner is a minor, married or within prohibited degrees of relationship. Children from such relationships will be recognised as legitimate, and a deserted partner may claim maintenance.
Failure to register a live-in relationship within a month could attract up to three months’ imprisonment or a fine of Rs 10,000, while registration obtained through force or fraud could lead to a five-year prison term.
Just 0.2% of readers pay for news. The others don’t care if it dies. You can help make a difference. Support independent journalism – join Scroll now.
We’re not driven by clicks or corporate interests – just honest, independent reporting. Keep us going. Support Scroll today!