Uttarakhand [India]: Uttarakhand has become the first state in India to implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) as of January 27, 2025. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami announced that all preparations, including rule approval and training of officials, have been completed to ensure the smooth implementation of the UCC.
CM Dhami took to social media to express his views:
“Dear residents of the state, The Uniform Civil Code (UCC) will be implemented in the state from January 27, 2025, making Uttarakhand the first state in independent India where this law will come into effect. All the necessary preparations have been completed to implement UCC, which includes approval of the rules of the Act and training of the concerned officials. UCC will bring uniformity in society and ensure equal rights and responsibilities for all citizens. Uniform Civil Code is just an offering made by our state in the great yagya being done by the Prime Minister to make the country a developed, organized, harmonious and self-reliant nation. Under the Uniform Civil Code, an attempt has been made to bring uniformity in all laws relating to personal civil matters that discriminate on the basis of caste, religion, sex, etc.”
Speaking to ANI, CM Dhami highlighted that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) fulfilled its 2022 election promise to implement the UCC, aligning with Article 44 of the Constitution. This article, part of the Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP), urges the country to secure a uniform civil code for its citizens to ensure socioeconomic justice and establish India as a Welfare State.
“During the 2022 assembly election, which we contested under the leadership of PM Modi, we promised the people of the state that we will work to implement the UCC after forming the government. We have fulfilled all the formalities, and the Act is now ready to be implemented. Uttarakhand has become the first state to bring the UCC—where there will be no discrimination based on gender, caste, or religion,” Dhami told ANI.
The Uttarakhand Uniform Civil Code Act, 2024, introduces a unified framework for personal laws related to marriage, divorce, inheritance, and testamentary succession. It applies to all residents of Uttarakhand, including those living outside the state, except for Scheduled Tribes and certain protected groups.
Key provisions of the Act include:
- Marriages can be solemnized only if neither party has a living spouse, both parties are mentally capable of consent, and they meet the minimum age requirements (21 years for men and 18 years for women).
- Marriages performed under any religious or legal custom must be registered within 60 days.
- Marriages solemnized before March 26, 2010, or outside Uttarakhand, where both parties meet eligibility criteria, can optionally be registered within six months of the Act’s implementation.
- Applications for marriage registration will be processed by the sub-registrar within 15 days.
The government’s statement emphasizes that the UCC aims to simplify and standardize laws, ensuring equality and uniformity for all citizens in personal matters.