Gujarat Gets Presidential Assent for UCC, Becomes Second State After Uttarakhand

October 2, 2026

Gandhinagar: Gujarat has become the second state after Uttarakhand to clear the presidential assent stage for a state-specific Uniform Civil Code (UCC), after President Droupadi Murmu gave her assent to the Gujarat Uniform Civil Code Bill, 2026.

According to the official records of the President of India, the Bill received presidential assent on September 17, 2026. The Gujarat Assembly had passed the legislation in March 2026.

The legislation seeks to establish a common legal framework for matters including marriage, divorce, succession and live-in relationships, irrespective of religion. However, the law does not apply to members of Scheduled Tribes and certain groups whose customary rights are protected under Part XXI of the Constitution.

Gujarat UCC Gets President Murmu’s Assent

The Gujarat Assembly passed the Uniform Civil Code Bill, 2026, after a debate lasting more than seven hours. With its passage, Gujarat became the second state after Uttarakhand to enact state-specific UCC legislation.

The Bill was introduced after a high-level committee headed by retired Supreme Court judge Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai submitted its final report to the Gujarat government on March 17, 2026. The committee had examined a common legal framework covering areas including marriage, divorce, inheritance and adoption.

The President’s assent represents the required constitutional approval for the state legislation. However, Gujarat’s UCC is not yet in force. The state government will have to complete the required implementation process and notify the law. Uttarakhand remains the only state where a state-specific UCC is currently operational.

What Gujarat’s Uniform Civil Code Covers

The Gujarat UCC provides a common legal framework covering marriage, divorce, succession and live-in relationships.

The legislation includes provisions for registration of marriages and live-in relationships and lays down a formal process for the termination of live-in relationships. It also prohibits bigamy, meaning a person cannot enter into a second marriage while their existing spouse is alive.

The Code applies across Gujarat and also provides for its application to residents of Gujarat living outside the state’s territorial limits.

Scheduled Tribes Excluded From Gujarat UCC

The legislation specifically excludes Scheduled Tribes from its scope. It also excludes persons and groups whose customary rights are protected under Part XXI of the Constitution.

This means the Gujarat UCC does not apply uniformly to every community covered by the state’s population, with the legislation providing specific constitutional exemptions.

Gujarat Follows Uttarakhand on UCC

Uttarakhand was the first state to pass and subsequently implement a state-specific Uniform Civil Code. Its UCC came into force on January 27, 2025, after the state completed the rules and administrative process following presidential approval.

Gujarat has now cleared the presidential assent stage for its own UCC legislation. The next step is implementation of the law through the state government’s notification and administrative framework.

The development makes Gujarat the second state after Uttarakhand to secure presidential assent for a state-specific UCC, while the two states’ laws remain separate state-level legislations rather than a single national Uniform Civil Code.