Gujarat becomes second state to adopt Uniform Civil Code after presidential assent

Gujarat has now joined Uttarakhand as the second state in India to adopt a Uniform Civil Code following President Murmu's formal assent to the legislation. The presidential approval marks a significant milestone in the state's legislative agenda and represents a major step toward standardizing personal laws across the jurisdiction.

The Uniform Civil Code seeks to replace community-specific personal laws with a common set of civil statutes governing matters such as marriage, divorce, succession, and inheritance. Proponents argue that such legislation promotes gender equality and ensures uniform treatment of citizens regardless of religious affiliation, while critics raise concerns about its implications for religious and minority rights.

Uttarakhand had previously enacted its UCC in 2018, becoming the first state to implement such comprehensive legislation. Gujarat's passage of the bill followed legislative deliberations and reflects the state government's commitment to the initiative.

The implementation of a UCC has long been a constitutional aspiration outlined in Article 44 of the Indian Constitution, though it remains a subject of considerable political and social debate. The presidential assent to Gujarat's bill is expected to reignite discussions about similar legislation in other states across the country.