Gandhinagar: The Gujarat State Assembly recently passed the Gujarat Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill, 2026, aiming to provide stronger legal protection and equality for women across communities.

The Bill covers key areas such as marriage, divorce, live-in relationships, maintenance and inheritance, and seeks to ensure equal rights and legal safeguards for women.

Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, while introducing the Bill, said that the move reflects the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s idea of “Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat” (One India, Great India), emphasizing that equal laws are essential for national unity and development.

Key provisions of the Bill

• Mandatory marriage registration:
All marriages must be registered within 60 days. Failure to do so may attract a fine of up to ₹10,000. Forced or fraudulent marriages can lead to up to seven years of imprisonment.

• Divorce rules:
Only court-approved divorces will be valid. Divorce outside court may lead to up to three years of punishment. Women will have the right to remarry without conditions.

• Equal maintenance and inheritance rights:
The law ensures equal maintenance rights for women across all religions. Sons and daughters will have equal inheritance rights, promoting gender equality and financial security.

• Regulation of live-in relationships:
Registration of live-in relationships will be mandatory. Non-registration may lead to up to three months’ imprisonment or a ₹10,000 fine.
Women in such relationships will have the right to maintenance, and children born from these relationships will get legal recognition and protection.

Focus on women’s rights

The Bill removes long-standing inequalities and strengthens women’s dignity and rights at every stage of life. It ensures legal protection for women regardless of religion or caste.

Legal and global framework

The Bill is based on Article 44 of the Constitution, which encourages a Uniform Civil Code. It also considers various Supreme Court judgments and existing Indian laws related to marriage, divorce and inheritance.

The drafting committee studied laws from India, Uttarakhand’s UCC, and several countries, including France, Germany, Turkey, Nepal and Azerbaijan, to prepare a comprehensive framework.

Giving dignity to women

Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel said the Bill is not just a legal reform but a step toward equality, justice and national unity. He emphasized that it will not interfere with religious customs but will regulate only civil legal matters. DeshGujarat