Overview
- Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced on September 13 that the Uniform Civil Code will be implemented in all 21 BJP-led NDA states before the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.
- Only Uttarakhand’s UCC is currently in force while Gujarat, Assam and Madhya Pradesh have passed laws that are awaiting presidential assent.
- Uttar Pradesh has not asked its State Law Commission to draft a UCC, making legislation there before the 2027 assembly election uncertain.
- Civil-society groups report sharp changes and harms from state UCCs, including a spike in marriage registrations in Uttarakhand (about 4.7 lakh last year) and NGO studies alleging suspicious deaths of young couples in parts of Gujarat.
- Several NDA partners and northeastern leaders oppose a nationwide code, and the central government says tribal communities will be exempt, leaving federal friction and electoral risk as key next issues.