Bhopal, April 10: The Madhya Pradesh government has initiated steps to implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) as part of its vision for “One Nation, One Law.” A high-level committee is expected to be formed soon to draft the state’s UCC bill. This committee will be chaired by a retired judge and will include social activists, senior lawyers, university vice-chancellors, and legal experts.
Sources indicate that Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has directed the Home Department to expedite this process during a recent cabinet meeting and at an event in Jabalpur. The goal is to implement the UCC by the end of 2026, or even before Diwali.
The department is actively studying UCC models adopted by Uttarakhand, the first state to implement a comprehensive UCC in 2024, and Gujarat, which passed its UCC bill in March 2026. They are analyzing the challenges, methodologies, and reports related to these implementations.
The Chief Minister has already received a detailed briefing on the matter. The proposed five-member committee will oversee the drafting process, learning from similar committees formed in other BJP-ruled states.
Officials have stated that the Home Department will draft the bill, while ministers will review practical obstacles encountered in other states during UCC implementation. This initiative follows a previous announcement made by former Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan in 2022, which did not materialize.
Cooperation Minister Vishwas Sarang has strongly supported this move, emphasizing the need for a uniform legal framework for national unity and the secure future of all citizens. He stated that laws should apply equally to everyone, without discrimination based on caste or religion.
Sarang criticized previous Congress governments for dividing society and stressed that the current efforts aim to rectify historical imbalances by promoting equality for present and future generations.
This development has sparked political debate. Congress MLA Arif Masood criticized the government, arguing that it is using the UCC issue to distract the public from serious problems like shortages of cooking gas and fertilizers. He questioned the potential impact of the UCC on people of different religions, suggesting that this move could be unjust rather than progressive, labeling it mere “political posturing” to divert attention from real governance issues.
The Madhya Pradesh government’s initiative aligns with ongoing national discussions on legal uniformity regarding the UCC. Uttarakhand and Gujarat have already implemented their versions, emphasizing equal rules for marriage, divorce, inheritance, and live-in relationships, with a focus on gender justice and equality.
With the formation of the committee, a comprehensive consultation process is expected to begin. The government claims that the UCC will promote equality and national unity, while the opposition warns against politicizing it at the expense of immediate livelihood concerns.
This development positions Madhya Pradesh as a potential next state to advance the long-discussed constitutional directive of a Uniform Civil Code.
Arpit Soni has had a passion for journalism since the beginning. Now he has turned this hobby into his profession. Arpit, who is a resident of Udaipur, enjoys editing and writing news related to journalism. He has worked as a Senior Content Producer in several important roles at Bhaskar, Patrika, Pratahkal, Punjab Kesari, and Times. Arpit completed his schooling in Udaipur and Jaipur. He has been working in the media industry for more than 10 years, and his journey is still continuing. ✍️📚
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