NationalThursday, 26 March 2026·https://testbook.com/current-affairs/26-march-2026-daily-current-affairs
Gujarat becomes second state to adopt Uniform Civil Code with Article 44-linked bill
The Gujarat Assembly passed the Uniform Civil Code Bill, 2026 on 24 March 2026, making Gujarat the second state after Uttarakhand to adopt a UCC.
Key highlights
Direct fact
On 24 March 2026, the Gujarat Legislative Assembly passed the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill, 2026 by majority voice vote, and Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel tabled it one week after the expert panel’s final report.
Key specifics
- Gujarat became the second state in India to adopt a UCC after Uttarakhand, which passed its version in February 2024.
- The Bill covers four areas: marriage, divorce, succession and live-in relationships.
- It prohibits bigamy and says a marriage is valid only if neither party has a living spouse.
- Live-in relationships must be registered with a designated authority and terminated through formal procedure.
- The Bill cites Article 44 of the Directive Principles of State Policy and exempts Scheduled Tribes and certain constitutionally protected customary groups.
Exam lens
Polity question type: state law and constitutional provisions, remember Article 44, 24 March 2026, Bhupendra Patel, Uttarakhand February 2024, and the four subject areas of the UCC.