Uniform Civil Code: Call for a Nationwide Law After Three States Pass Their Own
The Chief Minister of Assam has called for a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) across the whole country. A UCC means one common family law for all citizens, whatever their religion.
The main argument given was gender justice: different personal laws, it was said, leave many Muslim women with weaker protection in marriage, divorce and inheritance.
Assam already has its own law. The Assam Legislative Assembly passed the Assam Uniform Civil Code Bill, 2026 in May 2026. Assam became the first state in the Northeast and the third in India, after Uttarakhand and Gujarat, to pass such a law.
The Assam law bans polygamy (having more than one spouse), fixes the marriage age at 21 for men and 18 for women, and makes registration of marriages, divorces and live-in relationships compulsory. Scheduled Tribes are kept outside it.
A nationwide UCC would need a law made by Parliament. Article 44 of the Constitution asks the State to "endeavour" (try) to secure a UCC, but it is a Directive Principle, so no court can force the government to make one.
Uniform Civil Code (Article 44): One Civil Law for All Citizens
A Uniform Civil Code means one common set of family laws for every citizen. These laws cover marriage, divorce, maintenance (money support after separation), adoption and inheritance. Today, in most of India, these matters follow the personal law of each religion. Article 44 of the Constitution asks the State to try to bring in a UCC for the whole country.
The call for a nationwide UCC builds on the three state laws. States can legislate because marriage, divorce and succession are in the Concurrent List, but only Parliament can make a code for the whole country.
Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP)
The Directive Principles of State Policy are goals the Constitution sets for the government. They are in Part IV, from Article 36 to Article 51. They tell the State what kind of fair society to build, for example equal pay, free legal aid and a uniform civil code. Unlike Fundamental Rights, a citizen cannot go to court to force the government to follow them.
Because Article 44 is a Directive Principle, a nationwide UCC depends on the political will of Parliament. Courts can remind the government about it, as they did in Shah Bano and Sarla Mudgal, but cannot order it.
- Article 44, Part IV: State shall endeavour to secure a UCC
- Article 37: DPSPs are not enforceable in court
- States with a UCC law: Goa (Portuguese-era code), Uttarakhand (in force 27 January 2025), Gujarat (passed 24 March 2026), Assam (passed May 2026)
- Assam UCC: marriage age 21 (men) and 18 (women); marriage and divorce registration within 60 days; live-in registration within one month
- Bigamy or polygamy: up to 7 years in jail (Section 82, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023)
- Scheduled Tribes are exempt under all three state UCC laws
- 21st Law Commission (2018): UCC "neither necessary nor desirable at this stage"