Mon Jan 27 12:02:06 UTC 2025: ## Uttarakhand Becomes First Indian State to Implement Uniform Civil Code

**Dehradun, India –** Uttarakhand has become the first state in India to implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), a landmark move aimed at standardizing personal laws across all religions. The code, which went into effect on January 27th, was launched alongside a new online portal designed to streamline registration processes for marriage, divorce, inheritance, and live-in relationships.

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami hailed the UCC as a historic step, fulfilling a promise made during the 2022 state assembly elections. He described the initiative as a significant contribution to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a unified and self-reliant India. The UCC, the result of a five-member committee’s extensive consultation with over 230,000 citizens, was passed by the state assembly and subsequently signed into law by President Droupadi Murmu.

The 740-page code addresses various social issues, including:

* **Marriage and Divorce:** Establishes gender neutrality in divorce proceedings and sets a uniform age of marriage for men and women. Polygamy and “halala” are prohibited.
* **Inheritance:** Provides a standardized framework for inheritance rights.
* **Live-in Relationships:** Requires registration of live-in relationships and outlines procedures for their dissolution.

The new online portal, launched on January 27th, allows citizens to register these matters conveniently without needing in-person visits. The portal’s status tracking feature provides updates via email and SMS.

While the UCC applies statewide, including to Uttarakhand residents living outside the state, Scheduled Tribes and individuals/communities with special rights granted by protected authorities are exempted. The government emphasizes the UCC as promoting equal rights and justice for all. However, the implementation has also drawn both support and opposition. The long history of the UCC, dating back over 100 years, has been a subject of ongoing national debate.

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