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President Murmu Assents to Gujarat UCC Bill: Key Provisions on Marriage, Divorce, Inheritance
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Moneycontrol•02-10-2026, 15:46
President Murmu Assents to Gujarat UCC Bill: Key Provisions on Marriage, Divorce, Inheritance
- •President Droupadi Murmu has approved the Gujarat Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill, 2026, making Gujarat the second state after Uttarakhand to secure approval for a common legal framework for personal matters.
- •The UCC establishes a common framework for marriage, divorce, succession, inheritance, and live-in relationships, irrespective of religion, with Scheduled Tribes (STs) excluded from its provisions.
- •Key provisions include a minimum marriage age of 21 for men and 18 for women, compulsory marriage registration, prohibition of polygamy and nikah halala, and a common judicial procedure for divorce.
- •For inheritance, the Code introduces a common framework for intestate succession, ensuring equal shares for surviving spouses, children, and parents, with sons and daughters inheriting equally.
- •Mandatory registration of live-in relationships is required, with penalties for non-registration; children from such relationships are recognized as legitimate, and deserted partners can seek maintenance.
Key Questions Answered
The legislation establishes a minimum marriage age of 21 for men and 18 for women, makes registration compulsory, prohibits polygamy and nikah halala, and introduces a common intestate inheritance framework where sons and daughters inherit equally.
The Code makes registration of live-in relationships mandatory, requiring partners to notify authorities upon cohabitation and termination. Failure to register after one month can attract up to three months of imprisonment, a fine of up to Rs 10,000, or both.
Members of Scheduled Tribes (STs) are explicitly excluded from the provisions of the Gujarat Uniform Civil Code Bill, 2026.
