Union Minister of State for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal has said the government is committed to implementing the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) across the country, arguing that its constitutional basis makes it difficult to justify limiting the legislation to a few states.
In an interview with The New Indian Express, Meghwal was asked whether the UCC would remain confined to BJP-ruled states or eventually be introduced nationwide.
“The Uniform Civil Code was discussed in the Constituent Assembly, and the makers of the Constitution incorporated a provision for it under Article 44. The Supreme Court has also made observations on the subject on several occasions,” he said.
Meghwal welcomed the steps taken by some states towards implementing a common civil code and pointed to Goa, which has had a common civil code for a long time, including during periods when the BJP was not in power.
“We believe that the UCC should be implemented across the country, and our government is committed to this objective. It has a constitutional basis, and there is no reason why its implementation should remain restricted to a few states,” he said. He added that the issue was increasingly finding a place in the election manifestos of political parties.
Which states have moved towards a UCC?
Uttarakhand became the first state to enact a UCC law in February 2024 and remains the only state to have fully implemented the legislation, according to the report.
Gujarat has subsequently passed a UCC law, while Assam became the first northeastern state to pass such legislation in May 2026.
Madhya Pradesh has also taken steps towards adopting the code, with its Cabinet approving the proposal unanimously at a special meeting in Bhopal in August.
The UCC is among the BJP’s longstanding ideological objectives, alongside the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya and the abrogation of Article 370, both of which have been achieved.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has previously described a common civil law for every citizen as a commitment of the BJP since its inception. He has also expressed confidence that the UCC would be implemented in all 21 BJP and NDA-ruled states before 2029.
Article 44 of the Constitution, which is part of the Directive Principles of State Policy, directs the state to endeavour to secure a uniform civil code for citizens across India.
