Overview
- Gujarat’s Assembly, which debated the bill for more than seven hours on Tuesday, passed the Gujarat Uniform Civil Code, 2026 by majority voice vote.
- The code applies across the state and to Gujarat residents living outside it, with exemptions for Scheduled Tribes and groups whose customary rights are protected by the Constitution.
- The law requires registration of marriages within 60 days and of live‑in relationships within a month, with fines up to ₹10,000 for lapses and prison terms up to seven years for bigamy or for forced or fraudulent unions.
- Out‑of‑court divorces will not be valid, with violations carrying up to three years in jail, and equal rules for inheritance and maintenance aim to strengthen women’s rights.
- The legislation draws on a March 17 report by a panel led by retired Supreme Court judge Ranjana Desai after large public submissions, while Congress and AAP opposed the bill, sought a select committee, and about 25 protesters were detained in Ahmedabad.