Home Minister Amit Shah has made a sweeping declaration that every state under the National Democratic Alliance government will adopt a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) by 2029, positioning it as a landmark governance objective for the ruling coalition. Speaking at a public engagement, Shah framed the UCC as a tool for ensuring equal rights and opportunities for all citizens regardless of religion, and said the central government is working closely with state administrations to advance the implementation timeline.
A Uniform Civil Code seeks to replace the personal laws that different religious communities follow in matters such as marriage, divorce, inheritance, adoption, and maintenance with a common set of rules applicable to all citizens. India currently operates under separate personal laws for Hindus, Muslims, Christians, and other communities, and the push for a UCC has been a long-standing demand of the ruling party.
Shah indicated that 21 out of the 28 states currently governed by the NDA would be brought under this framework. Several states including Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Himachal Pradesh have already moved toward or adopted some form of UCC legislation, while others are expected to follow as part of the centralized roadmap. The remaining seven NDA-ruled states are being encouraged to begin the legislative and administrative process promptly.
The announcement has drawn both praise and criticism. Supporters argue that a common civil code promotes national integration and gender justice, pointing to the fact that women across multiple communities often face discriminatory provisions in existing personal laws. Critics, however, warn that imposing a uniform code without broad consensus could deepen communal tensions and encroach upon the constitutional right to practice and profess one's religion freely.
Legal experts note that while the Constitution directs the state to strive toward a UCC under Article 44, implementing it requires careful coordination between the centre and states, as law and order falls under the concurrent list of the Indian federal structure.
