{"id":153395,"date":"2025-01-29T19:37:53","date_gmt":"2025-01-29T14:07:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/?post_type=current-affairs&#038;p=153395"},"modified":"2025-03-03T12:00:13","modified_gmt":"2025-03-03T06:30:13","slug":"uttarakhand-adopts-ucc","status":"publish","type":"current-affairs","link":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/current-affairs\/uttarakhand-adopts-ucc","title":{"rendered":"Uttarakhand adopts Uniform Civil Code"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Recently, <\/span><b>Uttarakhand<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Chief Minister officially rolled out the <\/span><b>Uniform Civil Code (UCC) for all residents<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of the State, <\/span><b>except the Scheduled Tribes<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and natives who have migrated out of the State.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Uttarakhand has become the <\/span><b>first Indian State to implement the UCC post Independence.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Key Features of Uttarakhand\u2019s UCC<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Marriage and Divorce Regulations:<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bans practices such as <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">halala<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">iddat<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">talaq<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> from Muslim Personal Law.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ensures equal property and inheritance rights for women.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mandates online registration of marriages, divorces, and live-in relationships .<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Marriages can be performed according to religious customs, but registration within 60 days is mandatory<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Both men and women have equal grounds for divorce, ensuring gender neutrality in the divorce process.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Rights in Live-in Relationships:<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Landlords cannot deny housing to registered live-in couples.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Live-in relationships (before or after UCC) must be registered within one month of implementation.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Termination of live-in relationships can be done online or offline with mutual confirmation.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pregnancies during live-in relationships must be reported within 30 days of childbirth.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Will Registration: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Options for uploading handwritten\/typed wills, filling out an online form, or recording a three-minute video.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Armed forces personnel and mariners can create a \u2018privileged will\u2019 under flexible rules.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Simplifies the creation, cancellation, and modification of wills and codicils for testamentary succession<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Administrative Framework:<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sub-registrars verify applications within 15 days (or three days in emergencies).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rejection appeals can be made to registrars within 30 days; further appeals to the registrar-general within another 30 days.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Enforcement and Penalties: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Violators receive warnings initially; repeated offenses result in fines.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"vc_button\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pw.live\/batches\/upsc?utm_source=seo+upsc+batch&#038;utm_medium=seo+upsc&#038;utm_campaign=seo&#038;utm_id=upsc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Enroll now for UPSC Online Course<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Uniform Civil Code in India<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Uniform Civil Code (UCC) is a <\/span><b>proposed legal framework<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that aims to <\/span><b>replace personal laws<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> based on religious customs with a unified set of civil laws<\/span><b> applicable to all citizens<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, regardless of religion or ethnicity.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It seeks to address matters like <\/span><b>marriage, divorce, inheritance, and adoption<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> under a common framework, promoting <\/span><b>equality, secularism, and gender justice<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Key Features of UCC<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Uniform Application: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Replaces <\/span><b>religion-specific personal laws<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for Hindus, Muslims, Christians, and others.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"3\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Applies <\/span><b>equally to all citizens <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">in personal matters such as marriage, divorce, inheritance, and adoption.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Secular and Inclusive: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Envisions a <\/span><b>secular legal system<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, ensuring equal treatment irrespective of religious or cultural backgrounds.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"3\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Promotes <\/span><b>equality before the law<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and eliminates discriminatory practices rooted in personal laws.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Focus on Gender Justice: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Addresses gender-based discrimination in personal laws, empowering women with equal rights in marriage, divorce, property, and inheritance.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"vc_table_green\"><\/p>\n<table style=\"width: 99.8983%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th style=\"width: 100%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: rgba(184, 165, 217, 0.53); text-align: left; vertical-align: middle;\">\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt; color: #000000;\"><b>Status of UCC in the World<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>France:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Has a <\/span><b>Napoleonic Civil Code (1804)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that applies uniform laws to all citizens, ensuring secularism in personal matters.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Germany:<\/b> <b>German Civil Code (BGB, 1900)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> governs all citizens uniformly of the German Empire. The code is still in effect today, though it has been modified.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Turkey:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Adopted a <\/span><b>secular civil code (1926)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> based on the Swiss model, replacing Islamic personal laws.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>USA &#038; UK:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> No <\/span><b>UCC<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, as family laws vary by <\/span><b>state (USA)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><b>religious groups (UK)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> retain autonomy in personal matters.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>China:<\/b> <b>Civil Code (2021)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> applies uniformly to all citizens, covering marriage, inheritance, and property rights.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Saudi Arabia:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Follows <\/span><b>Sharia-based laws<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, with strict religious influence on family and inheritance laws.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>UAE:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Implemented <\/span><b>secular family laws (2022)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for non-Muslims, allowing civil marriages and inheritance rights.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><\/div>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Historical Background<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Pre-Independence Era: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Discussed during<\/span><b> British rule <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and later in the Constituent Assembly debates.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In <\/span><b>1835,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> a <\/span><b>British report <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">recommended legal uniformity but excluded personal laws of Hindus and Muslims.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Portuguese Civil Code of 1867: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Goa has a UCC under the<\/span><b> Goa Civil Code (Portuguese Civil Code of 1867),<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> which applies uniformly to all Goans, regardless of religion or ethnicity.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>B N Rau Committee (1941)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Formed to codify Hindu laws, recommending equal rights for women.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>Post-Independence Developments: Article 44 of the Constitution <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">included the UCC as a Directive Principle of State Policy.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Article 44<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: \u201cThe State shall endeavor to secure for the citizens a uniform civil code throughout the territory of India.\u201d<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"vc_button\"><a href=\"https:\/\/store.pw.live\/govt-entrance-exams\/upsc-books?utm_source=SEO&#038;utm_medium=PW+Live&#038;utm_campaign=UPSC+CSE+Books\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Check Out UPSC CSE Books From PW Store<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Personal Laws in India<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Concurrent Jurisdiction<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Personal law subjects like marriage, divorce, inheritance come under <\/span><b>Concurrent list in Seventh Schedule<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Hindu Personal Laws and Uniform Civil Code:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> These laws (that apply also to the Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists) have been codified by the Parliament in 1956. This Code Bill has been split into<\/span><b> four parts<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>The Hindu Marriage Act, 1955<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Established monogamy and made Hindu marriages dissoluble contracts.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>The Hindu Succession Act, 1956<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Improved inheritance rights for daughters and widows.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>The Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act, 1956<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Made the mother the natural guardian of the child after the father<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>The Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act, 1956<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Allowed girls to be adopted and granted maintenance rights to wives and widows<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>The Sharia Law of 1937:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Governs the personal matters of all Indian Muslims in India.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It explicitly states that the government won\u2019t interfere in personal disputes. Instead, a religious authority will make a decision based on their understanding of the Quran and Hadith.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Christians, Parsis, and Jews: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These three communities governed under the Indian Succession Act of 1925.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"vc_table_green\"><\/p>\n<table style=\"width: 99.6975%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th style=\"width: 100%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: rgba(184, 165, 217, 0.53); text-align: left; vertical-align: middle;\">\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt; color: #000000;\"><b>Notable Supreme Court cases related to UCC<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Shah Bano Begum v. Union of India (1985): <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This case ruled in favor of a Muslim woman&#8217;s right to maintenance from her husband after divorce.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">The court also emphasized the need for a UCC to ensure gender equality.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, the government overturned the ruling through the <\/span><b>Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorce) Act, 1986<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, reinforcing religious personal laws over gender justice.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Sarla Mudgal v. Union of India (1995): <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This case ruled that a Hindu husband cannot marry another woman while his first marriage is still valid, even if he converts to Islam.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">The court also stated that a UCC would prevent bigamous marriages.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Shayara Bano v. Union of India (2017): <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This case ruled that the practice of triple talaq was unconstitutional and violated the dignity of Muslim women.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">The court also recommended that Parliament enact a law to regulate Muslim marriages and divorces.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Jose Paulo Coutinho v. Maria Luiza Valentina Pereira (2019): <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This case praised Goa&#8217;s implementation of a uniform civil code and urged for its nationwide adoption.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><\/div>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Arguments in Favor of a Uniform Civil Code<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Gender Justice and Equality: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">UCC will eliminate gender discrimination in personal laws, ensuring equal rights for women in marriage, divorce, inheritance, and maintenance.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><b>Global Gender Gap Report 2024<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> ranks India <\/span><b>129th out of 146 countries<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, with significant gaps in economic and legal rights for women.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Secularism and Constitutional Mandate: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">UCC aligns with India\u2019s secular principles by ensuring that <\/span><b>all citizens are treated equally under the same civil law<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, rather than being governed by religion-based personal laws.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Article 44 (DPSP):<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The Constitution explicitly states that the State should &#8220;endeavor to secure a Uniform Civil Code for the citizens.&#8221;<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>National Integration and Unity: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A UCC will <\/span><b>remove legal fragmentation<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> based on religion and promote a <\/span><b>unified national identity<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, reducing communal tensions.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Census 2011<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: India has over <\/span><b>200 million Muslims<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, 26 million Christians, and various other minorities, each governed by different personal laws, creating <\/span><b>legal complexities and inequalities<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Simplification of Legal System and Reduction in Litigation: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">UCC will replace <\/span><b>multiple religious personal laws<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> with a single framework, reducing <\/span><b>legal confusion, contradictions, and judicial backlog<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Hindu Succession Act, 1956<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> was amended in 2005 to grant daughters equal property rights, whereas Muslim inheritance laws still favor male heirs.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Protection of Women&#8217;s Rights in Marriage and Inheritance: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Women, especially in Muslim and tribal communities, suffer due to <\/span><b>unequal inheritance rights, polygamy, and lack of legal protection<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>UNDP Gender Inequality Index (2022):<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> India ranks <\/span><b>108th<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> due to discriminatory inheritance and marriage laws.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>National Sample Survey (2019):<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Women own only <\/span><b>13% of agricultural land<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> despite contributing <\/span><b>50% of farming labor<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Curbing Religious Exploitation and Misuse of Laws:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> UCC will prevent <\/span><b>misuse of religion-based laws<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for personal or political gains, ensuring <\/span><b>legal consistency<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While <\/span><b>triple talaq was abolished<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, Muslim men can still <\/span><b>easily divorce their wives<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> compared to other communities.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"vc_button\"><a href=\"https:\/\/store.pw.live\/govt-entrance-exams\/upsc-books\/upsc-modules?utm_source=SEO&#038;utm_medium=PW+Live&#038;utm_campaign=UPSC+Modules\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Check Out UPSC Modules From PW Store<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Arguments against of a Uniform Civil Code<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Violation of Religious Freedom and Constitutional Rights:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> UCC may infringe upon <\/span><b>Article 25 and Article 26<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of the Constitution, which guarantee religious freedom and allow communities to manage their own affairs.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><b>21st Law Commission (2018):<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Concluded that UCC was <\/span><b>\u201cneither necessary nor desirable\u201d<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> at the time, as it could <\/span><b>undermine India\u2019s religious diversity<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>Threat to India&#8217;s Cultural and Religious Diversity: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India is home to <\/span><b>Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, and over 700 tribal communities<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, each with distinct personal laws and <\/span><b>one-size-fits-all UCC<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> may <\/span><b>erase cultural identities<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Tribal Laws (Article 371 &#038; 5th &#038; 6th Schedule):<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Special protections exist for tribals, such as Khasi, Naga, and Mizo communities, whose customs may <\/span><b>not align with a UCC<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>Fear of Majoritarianism and Political Misuse: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many minorities fear that UCC is <\/span><b>not truly secular<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, but rather an attempt to <\/span><b>impose Hindu-centric laws<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> on all communities, potentially eroding pluralism.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Uttarakhand UCC (2024):<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Critics argue that the UCC passed in Uttarakhand disproportionately <\/span><b>targets Muslim practices<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (banning polygamy, triple talaq) while <\/span><b>not addressing Hindu biases<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, such as inheritance and temple entry for women.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>Practical Challenges in Implementation:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Given India\u2019s <\/span><b>vast diversity<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, enforcing a <\/span><b>uniform<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> law would require <\/span><b>rewriting multiple personal laws<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, leading to <\/span><b>legal and administrative chaos<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Special Marriage Act (1954):<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Already allows for <\/span><b>secular marriages<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, but is <\/span><b>rarely used<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> due to social stigma, showing that even an <\/span><b>existing alternative is not widely accepted<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>Resistance from Minority and Tribal Communities: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many minority groups feel that UCC would <\/span><b>erase their unique identity<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><b>disrupt traditional practices<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and <\/span><b>marginalize their communities<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Naga and Mizo Customary Laws g<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">overn marriage and inheritance differently, often favoring <\/span><b>tribal elders&#8217; decisions<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> over codified laws.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>Potential for Social Unrest and Resistance: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A sudden or <\/span><b>forced implementation<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of UCC could <\/span><b>trigger large-scale protests, communal tensions, and legal challenges<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>CAA-NRC Protests (2019-2020) s<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">howed how laws perceived as <\/span><b>targeting minorities<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> led to <\/span><b>massive unrest<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. A <\/span><b>hastily imposed UCC<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> could result in similar nationwide opposition.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Way Forward for Implementing the Uniform Civil Code (UCC)<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Gradual and Phased Implementation: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A sudden, all-encompassing UCC could face <\/span><b>massive resistance<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. A step-by-step approach can <\/span><b>help communities adapt<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> over time.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Law Commission (2018):<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Suggested that <\/span><b>incremental reforms<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in personal laws may be <\/span><b>more effective<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> than imposing a UCC overnight.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Extensive Public Consultation and Consensus Building:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> UCC must reflect <\/span><b>all communities\u2019 concerns<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, not just the majority. Consultation ensures <\/span><b>inclusivity and reduces resistance<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>22nd Law Commission (2023-24):<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Reopened UCC discussions and invited <\/span><b>public feedback<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> from different religious and social groups.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Harmonization of Existing Personal Laws Instead of Overriding Them:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Instead of <\/span><b>imposing a single UCC<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><b>reforming and harmonizing personal laws<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to remove <\/span><b>discriminatory practices<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> can be more effective.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorce) Act, 2019<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> ended <\/span><b>triple talaq<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> while <\/span><b>retaining other aspects<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of Muslim personal law.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Ensuring Constitutional Safeguards for Minorities and Tribals:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Many <\/span><b>minority and tribal communities fear UCC<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> will dilute their identity. Legal safeguards can <\/span><b>protect their cultural rights<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> while ensuring equality.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Uttarakhand UCC (2024):<\/b> <b>Exempted Scheduled Tribes (STs)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, respecting their constitutional protections.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Strengthening Legal Awareness and Gender Justice Campaigns:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0 <\/span><b>Mass awareness campaigns<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> on <\/span><b>women\u2019s inheritance rights, divorce laws, and marriage rights<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Scheme<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> helped raise <\/span><b>awareness on gender equality<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014similar programs can promote <\/span><b>legal literacy on UCC<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Learning from Global Models and Best Practices:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Countries like <\/span><b>Turkey, France, and Germany<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> have implemented <\/span><b>secular civil codes<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, but with <\/span><b>careful adaptation to local traditions<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Adopt a <\/span><b>hybrid approach<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, allowing communities <\/span><b>to transition at their own pace<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Goa UCC Success:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Goa has had a <\/span><b>uniform civil code for decades<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, proving that <\/span><b>gradual adaptation works better than forced implementation<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"vc_button\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pw.live\/batches\/upsc\/pw-only-ias?utm_source=seo+upsc+batch&#038;utm_medium=seo+upsc&#038;utm_campaign=seo&#038;utm_id=upsc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Enroll now for UPSC Online Classes<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Conclusion<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Uniform Civil Code (UCC) is a complex but crucial step toward ensuring gender justice, national unity, and legal uniformity in India. However, its implementation must be gradual, consultative, and inclusive, respecting India\u2019s cultural and religious diversity. A balanced approach\u2014harmonizing existing personal laws, securing constitutional safeguards for minorities, and promoting legal awareness\u2014will be key to achieving social cohesion and legal equality without triggering unnecessary conflicts.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><i>Ready to boost your UPSC 2025 preparation?<\/i><\/b> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pw.live\/batches\/upsc?utm_source=seo+upsc+batch&#038;utm_medium=seo+upsc&#038;utm_campaign=seo&#038;utm_id=upsc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b><i>Join PW&#8217;s UPSC online courses<\/i><\/b><\/a><b><i> today!<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<div class=\"vc_table_green\"><\/p>\n<table style=\"width: 99.6375%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 111.19%; text-align: center;\" colspan=\"2\"><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Also Read<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 49.797%; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/editorial-analysis\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>UPSC Daily Editorials<\/b><\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 61.393%; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/daily-current-affairs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>UPSC Daily Current Affairs<\/b><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 49.797%; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/quiz\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>Daily Current Affairs Quiz<\/b><\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 61.393%; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/mains-answer-writing\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>Daily Main Answer Writing<\/b><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 49.797%; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/store.pw.live\/govt-entrance-exams\/upsc-books\/upsc-previous-year-papers?utm_source=SEO&#038;utm_medium=PW+Live&#038;utm_campaign=UPSC+Previous+Year+Papers\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>Check Out Previous Years Papers From PW Store<\/b><\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 61.393%; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/upsc-test-series-courses\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>UPSC Test Series<\/b><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 49.797%; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/store.pw.live\/govt-entrance-exams\/upsc-books\/upsc-textbooks?utm_source=SEO&#038;utm_medium=PW+Live&#038;utm_campaign=UPSC+Textbooks\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>Check Out UPSC NCERT Textbooks From PW Store<\/b><\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 61.393%; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/store.pw.live\/govt-entrance-exams\/upsc-books\/upsc-modules?utm_source=SEO&#038;utm_medium=PW+Live&#038;utm_campaign=UPSC+Modules\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>Check Out UPSC Modules From PW Store<\/b><\/a><b>\u00a0<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Uttarakhand Chief Minister officially rolled out the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) for all residents of the State, except the Scheduled Tribes and natives who have migrated out of the State.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":153371,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_lock_modified_date":false,"footnotes":""},"tags":[],"paper-wise":[2084],"subject":[2124],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/current-affairs\/153395"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/current-affairs"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/current-affairs"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=153395"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/current-affairs\/153395\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":153399,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/current-affairs\/153395\/revisions\/153399"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/153371"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=153395"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=153395"},{"taxonomy":"paper-wise","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/paper-wise?post=153395"},{"taxonomy":"subject","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/subject?post=153395"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}