KEVADIA: President Droupadi Murmu has given her formal assent to the Gujarat Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill, 2026, paving the way for the legislation to take effect in the state. The development has triggered contrasting reactions from the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress, with the two parties differing sharply over the purpose and potential impact of the legislation.
The BJP welcomed the President’s assent and described the legislation as an important step towards equality and women’s empowerment.
BJP leader Anil Patel said the President’s approval means the UCC Act has now come into effect in Gujarat. He said the legislation would address issues relating to marriage, divorce, live-in relationships and succession that had previously been governed differently across communities and religious groups.
#WATCH | Ahmedabad | BJP leader Dr Anil Patel says, "The President has given her formal assent to the UCC Bill 2026 today; consequently, the UCC Act has now come into effect in Gujarat. I welcome this UCC Act, as it represents a significant step towards women’s empowerment and… pic.twitter.com/E1OqJ9ty23
— ANI (@ANI) October 2, 2026
Anil Patel said, “The President has given her formal assent to the UCC Bill 2026 today; consequently, the UCC Act has now come into effect in Gujarat. I welcome this UCC Act, as it represents a significant step towards women’s empowerment and the principle of equality in the state. The Act will address numerous issues concerning marriage, divorce, live-in relationships, and succession that previously existed across various communities and religious sects. When the architects of the Constitution, including Babasaheb Ambedkar and many others, drafted the document, they clearly articulated the need for a Uniform Civil Code in the country. Today, that objective has been realised in Gujarat.” Meanwhile, the Congress has criticised the enactment of the UCC, arguing that the government should have first consulted Gujarat’s diverse communities before bringing the legislation to the Assembly.
Earlier this year in March, the Gujarat State Assembly passed the Gujarat Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill 2026, aiming to provide stronger legal protection and equality for women across communities.
According to the Chief Minister’s Office, the Bill covers key areas such as marriage, divorce, live-in relationships, maintenance, and inheritance, and seeks to ensure equal rights and legal safeguards for women.
The Chief Minister, Bhupendra Patel, while introducing the bill, said that the move reflects the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s idea of “Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat” (One India, Great India), emphasising that equal laws are essential for national unity and development.
(With inputs from ANI)
