Madhya Pradesh Cabinet Clears UCC Bill 2026, State Becomes Fourth to Pass It

The Madhya Pradesh Cabinet has approved the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill 2026, making Madhya Pradesh the fourth Indian state to pass such a law, following Uttarakhand, Gujarat and Assam. The bill seeks to bring uniformity to laws relating to marriage, divorce, inheritance, adoption, maintenance and cohabitation, while exempting certain protected and tribal communities.

What Is the Madhya Pradesh UCC Bill 2026?

The Uniform Civil Code bill aims to create uniform civil laws applicable to all citizens regardless of religion in matters of personal law. It was unanimously approved by the Madhya Pradesh Cabinet during a special meeting held in Jadishpur, Bhopal, and will now be tabled in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly during the Monsoon Session. The bill aims at making civil laws consistent for everyone, ensuring equal rights and obligations across communities.

Constitutional Basis

The concept of the Uniform Civil Code stems from Article 44 of the Directive Principles of State Policy in the Indian Constitution, which states that the State shall endeavour to secure a uniform civil code for citizens across India. Although the Directive Principles are not enforceable in court, they serve as guiding principles for governance and policy-making, with the aim of promoting equality, national integration and uniformity in civil matters while preserving religious freedom.

Key Features of the Bill

The bill makes marriage registration compulsory for all couples regardless of religion. It also requires couples in a live-in relationship to register within one month of the relationship's start. The bill provides for equal inheritance and property rights for daughters and sons, and establishes monogamy as the standard across all faiths. It further prohibits practices such as polygamy, triple talaq and nikah halala, seeking to create the same marriage-related regulations across communities.

Exemption for Tribal Communities

Scheduled Tribes (STs) and Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) are exempted from the bill and will continue to be governed by their own traditional practices and existing legal protections, reflecting an attempt to balance legal uniformity with tribal customs.

Fourth State to Adopt UCC

With Cabinet approval, Madhya Pradesh joins the list of states that have moved to implement the Uniform Civil Code. Uttarakhand was the first state to implement the UCC, in 2025, followed by Gujarat, which adopted a UCC framework, and Assam, which approved UCC laws. Madhya Pradesh's Cabinet has now approved its own UCC bill for 2026.