India’s Hindu nationalist government is pushing for a wider rollout of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), a move that is likely to renew concerns among the country’s large Muslim minority.
Home Minister Amit Shah said on Sunday that the government was working to extend the common civil code to more states governed by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led alliance.
“We have introduced the UCC in several states,” Shah said, adding that he was confident it would be implemented in all 21 states governed by the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance by 2029.
At least four Indian states have introduced the UCC so far.
What is the Uniform Civil Code?
India’s 1.4 billion people are governed by common criminal laws, but personal matters such as marriage, divorce and inheritance are regulated by different rules based on the customs and religious traditions of various communities.
The UCC seeks to replace these separate personal laws with a common legal framework applying to citizens regardless of their religion.
The policy has been a longstanding objective of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s BJP and has featured prominently in the party’s political agenda.
Supporters argue that a common civil code would promote equality before the law, particularly for women. They say provisions ending polygamy, establishing equal inheritance rights for sons and daughters and requiring divorce proceedings to be conducted through civil courts could strengthen women’s legal protections.
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Muslim community raises concerns
Opponents, particularly among India’s Muslim population, have raised concerns that the UCC could interfere with religious freedoms and established personal laws.
India is predominantly Hindu but has an estimated 220 million Muslims, making it home to the world’s third-largest Muslim population.
The debate over the civil code has therefore remained politically and socially sensitive, particularly as Modi’s government has pursued several policies that have drawn criticism from minority groups and rights advocates.
The government, however, maintains that the UCC is intended to establish a more uniform legal framework and promote equality rather than target any particular religious community.
2029 election deadline
Shah’s comments come ahead of India’s next national elections, which are scheduled for 2029.
Modi secured a third consecutive term as prime minister in 2024, although his BJP lost its parliamentary majority and was forced to rely on coalition partners to form the government.
The proposed expansion of the UCC to BJP-led states is expected to remain an important political and legal issue as the country moves towards the 2029 elections.
