Madhya Pradesh Cabinet approved the draft Uniform Civil Code Bill on 19 July 2026 in a special meeting at Jagdishpur near Bhopal. The Bill is scheduled for introduction in the Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly during the Monsoon Session that began on 20 July 2026.
Uniform Civil Code in India
A Uniform Civil Code is a proposed common set of civil laws for all citizens on matters such as marriage, divorce, inheritance, adoption, and live-in relationships. Article 44 of the Constitution of India places the Uniform Civil Code among the Directive Principles of State Policy.
Key Provisions of the Madhya Pradesh Bill
The Bill proposes monogamy across religions and bans polygamy, nikah halala, and triple talaq. It keeps the legal marriage age at 21 years for men and 18 years for women, and it makes marriage registration compulsory at all administrative levels. The draft also provides equal inheritance and property rights for sons and daughters. It introduces mandatory registration of live-in relationships within one month and prescribes up to five years of imprisonment for married persons entering live-in relationships.
Exemptions for Tribal Communities
Scheduled Tribes and Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups living in protected areas are exempt from the Bill’s provisions. The exemption covers communities with distinct customary practices, traditional social structures, and protected cultural identities.
Public Consultation and State Context
The draft was prepared after public consultation that received more than 9.5 lakh suggestions. Madhya Pradesh is set to become the fourth state in India to implement a Uniform Civil Code law after Uttarakhand, Gujarat, and Assam.
Important Facts for Exams
- Article 44 of the Constitution of India is placed under the Directive Principles of State Policy.
- Uttarakhand became the first Indian state to enact a Uniform Civil Code law in 2025.
- Live-in relationship registration has been linked to civil law regulation in several recent state-level proposals.
- Triple talaq was criminalised at the national level through the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act, 2019.
