The way has been cleared for implementing Uniform Civil Code i.e. UCC in Gujarat. President Draupadi Murmu has approved the Gujarat Uniform Civil Code Bill, 2026. According to the official records of Rashtrapati Bhavan, the bill was approved on 17 September 2026. With this, Gujarat has become the second state in the country after Uttarakhand to take forward the UCC law.
The Gujarat Assembly passed this bill with a majority in March 2026 after a discussion that lasted for more than seven hours. The objective of the law is to create a uniform legal system in matters such as marriage, divorce, succession and live-in relationships. However, the provisions of the law will not apply to Scheduled Tribes (ST) and certain groups specially protected under the Constitution.
Polygamy will be banned
One of the most important provisions of Gujarat UCC is the prohibition on polygamy. Under the law, it will not be valid for a person to marry for the second time if his spouse is already alive. That is, at the time of marriage neither of the parties should have an already living spouse. Through this provision, an attempt has been made to implement a uniform system instead of rules related to marriage in different communities. The minimum age for marriage is also prescribed in the law. The minimum age for men has been kept at 21 years and for women at 18 years.
Registration of marriage and divorce is necessary
Registration of marriage under UCC will be mandatory. Along with this, provision has also been made for registration of final orders related to divorce. The law provides for a prescribed legal procedure for matters related to marriage and divorce. Its purpose is to officially register the marriage record and clarify the legal rights associated with it. The bill also makes provisions for matters related to marriage, divorce, matrimonial disputes, judicial separation and annulment of marriage.
Live-in relationships will also be registered
Live-in relationships have also been kept within the ambit of the legal system in Gujarat UCC. Provision has been made for the process of registration and formal termination of live-in relationships. That means such relationships will also have to be recorded in the administrative records as per the prescribed procedure. This provision does not limit Gujarat's UCC only to marriage and divorce, but also brings within the ambit of the law matters related to couples living together outside marriage.
Provisions on children's rights also
The bill also includes provisions related to the legal status of children. According to the legal document, a provision has been made to recognize children born within or outside marriage and children born and adopted through assisted reproductive technology on an equal basis. Its purpose is to provide legal protection to the rights of children by keeping them independent of the marital status of their parents.
On whom will UCC not apply?
The provisions of Gujarat UCC will be applicable in the entire state and some of its provisions are also applicable to those residents of Gujarat who live outside the state. However, Scheduled Tribes and certain groups protected with special rights under the Constitution have been kept out of its scope.
Now the implementation process will move forward
After the approval of the President, an important step has been taken towards completing the legal process required to implement UCC in Gujarat. After being passed by the Assembly, the President's assent is an important step in the process of this bill becoming law. Before Gujarat, Uttarakhand had passed the UCC law in February 2024. The Gujarat law aims to create a uniform legal framework for personal law matters such as marriage, divorce, succession and live-in relationships.