Uttarakhand Becomes First State to Implement Uniform Civil Code
Dehradun, January 27, 2025: Uttarakhand has become the first state in independent India to implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), as announced by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. All necessary preparations have been completed, including the approval of the rules and the training of relevant officials.
Dhami emphasized that the UCC will promote societal uniformity by ensuring equal rights and responsibilities for all citizens. He described the law’s implementation as part of a “great ‘yagya'” led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, aimed at making India a developed, organized, harmonious, and self-reliant nation.
The UCC was a central promise of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) during the 2022 assembly elections, in which the party secured a historic second consecutive term. Dhami attributed the BJP’s sweeping victory to its commitment to implementing the UCC.
Following his re-election in March 2022, Dhami’s government quickly formed an expert committee to draft the law. This committee, headed by retired Supreme Court Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai, was established on May 27, 2022.
After 18 months of consultations with various community groups, the committee submitted a comprehensive four-volume draft in February 2024. The state assembly passed the UCC legislation on February 7, 2024, and it received presidential assent nearly a month later, paving the way for its implementation.
An additional expert committee, led by former chief secretary Shatrughna Singh, was formed to develop the rules and regulations for the law’s execution. This committee submitted its final report late last year, and the state cabinet recently approved it, allowing Chief Minister Dhami to set an implementation date.
With this landmark decision, Uttarakhand has set a precedent for other states considering similar reforms, marking a significant shift in India’s legal and governance landscape.