'Historic step': After Uttarakhand, Gujarat passes Uniform Civil Code Bill

NEW DELHI: The Gujarat Assembly on Wednesday passed the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill, 2026 making the state the second in India after Uttarakhand to implement a uniform legal framework governing personal laws.With the passage of the legislation, Gujarat joins Uttarakhand in adopting a common set of laws related to marriage, divorce, inheritance and adoption across communities.Union home minister Amit Shah welcomed the move, calling it a “historic step” towards ensuring equality for all citizens. In a post on X, he said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has remained committed to the idea of a uniform law since its inception.“It has been the BJP’s resolve since its inception that there should be a uniform law for every citizen in the country. Under the leadership of Modi ji, the BJP’s state governments are continuously moving forward in this direction. I am delighted that after Uttarakhand, Gujarat has now also accomplished the historic task of passing the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill,” Shah said.He also congratulated chief minister Bhupendra Patel and the legislators who supported the bill, adding that the country should be governed through equal laws for all citizens.Patel, in a separate post, described the development as a “historic moment” for the state and the nation. He said the UCC would ensure equal rights for women across religions and castes and strengthen their dignity and security.The chief minister added that the implementation process involved extensive public consultations and was guided by a committee headed by retired Supreme Court judge Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai, which submitted a detailed report after studying various aspects of the issue.According to Patel, the new law aims to establish a common legal framework while ensuring that no community faces discrimination. He expressed confidence that the UCC would strengthen the social fabric of the state and support inclusive development.