Madhya Pradesh plans UCC rollout by Diwali; draft bill in works

The Madhya Pradesh government is planning to implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) by Diwali, advancing a key agenda of the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has directed the home department to prepare a draft bill within six months, drawing on UCC frameworks already implemented in Uttarakhand and Gujarat. A state-level committee comprising legal experts, officials and community representatives will be constituted to oversee the process.

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Cooperatives minister Vishwas Sarang said the move is aimed at ensuring equal rights for all citizens and strengthening national unity and integrity.

However, Leader of Opposition Umang Singhar urged the government to consult all stakeholders before finalising the law.

Uttarakhand became the first state to implement the UCC in 2025, mandating registration of marriages, divorces and live-in relationships, with penalties for non-compliance. Gujarat followed in March 2026, introducing equal inheritance rights for sons and daughters, compulsory registration of live-in relationships, and criminalising polygamy with certain exemptions for Scheduled Tribes.

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The BJP has consistently pitched the UCC as part of its “one nation, one law” vision, linking it to national integration and gender equality.

(With inputs from TOI)