Tue Jan 28 07:12:33 UTC 2025: ## Uttarakhand Becomes First State to Implement Uniform Civil Code, with Exceptions
**Dehradun, India** – Uttarakhand has become the first state in India to implement a Uniform Civil Code (UCC), a move aimed at standardizing personal laws across all religions. The UCC, which will largely govern matters such as marriage, divorce, and inheritance, applies equally to all citizens regardless of faith or caste.
However, significant exceptions have been made. Scheduled Tribes (approximately 290,000 individuals across five tribes in Uttarakhand) and the transgender community have been exempted from the UCC’s provisions. This exemption is intended to preserve their unique cultural practices and traditions. The UCC draft committee recommended the exclusion, citing the need to protect the identity, backwardness, and customs of these groups.
This exemption will not be limited to Uttarakhand. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has confirmed that even if the UCC is implemented nationwide, Scheduled Tribes will remain exempt to allow them to maintain their traditions. The government’s advocacy for a nationwide UCC continues despite this.
First Piper 