Gujarat UCC Bill gets presidential assent; BJP hails it as step towards equality, Congress calls "distraction"
President Droupadi Murmu has signed the Gujarat UCC Bill, 2026. BJP hails it as a win for equality, while Congress calls it a distraction.
In a landmark legal development, President Droupadi Murmu has granted formal assent to the Gujarat Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill, 2026. This presidential approval officially paves the way for the legislation to be implemented across the state, marking a significant shift in the legal landscape regarding personal laws.
A Milestone for Equality, Says BJP
The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has celebrated the assent, framing the new law as a transformative move toward social justice. Following the announcement, BJP leader Anil Patel confirmed that the UCC Act has now officially come into effect in Gujarat.
According to Patel, the legislation is designed to create a unified legal framework for matters that were previously handled differently based on religious or community affiliations. The key areas covered by the Act include:
- Marriage and Divorce: Standardizing the legal processes for unions and separations.
- Live-in Relationships: Providing legal recognition and regulation for cohabitation.
- Succession: Streamlining inheritance and property rights.
Patel further emphasized that the move fulfills a long-standing constitutional vision. "When the architects of the Constitution, including Babasaheb Ambedkar and many others, drafted the document, they clearly articulated the need for a Uniform Civil Code in the country. Today, that objective has been realised in Gujarat," he stated, adding that the Act is a major step toward women's empowerment.
Congress Slams Bill as "Distraction"
The opposition Congress party, however, has met the news with sharp criticism. Amit Chavda, President of the Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee, argued that the government bypassed essential democratic processes by failing to consult the state's diverse population before passing the Bill.
Chavda contended that Gujarat is a mosaic of different castes, religions, and traditions, and that a law of this magnitude should have been preceded by extensive dialogue. He noted that the Congress had previously demanded the Bill be sent to a Select Committee for wider scrutiny, a request that was ignored by the ruling majority.
"Diversion from Socioeconomic Failures"
The Congress leadership suggested that the timing of the UCC implementation is intended to shift public attention away from critical issues facing the state. Chavda highlighted several pressing concerns that he believes the government is neglecting, including:
- High rates of unemployment among the youth.
- Frequent examination paper leaks.
- Ongoing struggles of the tribal community regarding land and forest rights.
- Rising atrocities against Scheduled Castes (SCs) and minorities.
- Economic distress caused by inflation and farmer suicides.
"It is merely an attempt to distract people from the government’s all-round failures," Chavda remarked, asserting that the law will offer no real benefit to Dalits, OBCs, or tribal communities in Gujarat.
The Gujarat State Assembly had originally passed the UCC Bill in March, with the Chief Minister's Office stating that the primary goal was to ensure stronger legal protections and gender equality for women across all communities in the state.