Amit Shah heaps praise after Gujarat assembly approves UCC Bill

New Delhi: The Gujarat Legislative Assembly has passed the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill, 2026. With this, BJP-ruled Gujarat has become the second state to pass a Uniform Civil Code bill. The Gujarat Assembly passed the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill by a majority vote following a lengthy debate that lasted for over seven hours. Union Home Minister Amit Shah reacted to the passing of the UCC Bill in Gujarat.

What did Amit Shah say?

In a post on 'X', Amit Shah congratulated the state's Chief Minister and the legislators who supported the bill on its passage. "I am delighted that, following Uttarakhand, Gujarat has now also demonstrated its commitment by undertaking the historic task of passing the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill," he wrote.

The UCC Bill was approved in Uttarakhand in 2024. Now, the Uniform Civil Code Bill has been passed by the Gujarat Legislative Assembly. Speaking on the passage of this bill, Amit Shah stated that having a uniform law for every citizen in the country has been a long-standing resolve of the BJP.

"The resolve that there should be a uniform law for every citizen in the country has been the BJP's commitment since its very inception. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP state governments are continuously moving forward in this direction. I am delighted that, following Uttarakhand, Gujarat has now also demonstrated its commitment by undertaking the historic task of passing the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill," he added.

"I congratulate Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and all the legislators who supported this bill. It is both our priority and our resolve that the nation be governed not on the basis of appeasement, but through uniform laws applicable to all citizens."

What does the UCC Bill entail?

The Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill, 2026, has been passed in the Gujarat Legislative Assembly. This bill proposes a uniform legal framework to govern marriage, divorce, inheritance, and live-in relationships, irrespective of religious affiliation. The bill was introduced after a panel appointed by the state government submitted its final report regarding the implementation of the UCC.

Following the passage of this bill, provisions have been established for a prison sentence of up to seven years for marriages solemnized through coercion, duress, or deceit. With the enactment of this bill, Gujarat has become the second state in the country—after Uttarakhand—to adopt the UCC. Uttarakhand was the first state to pass a UCC bill, doing so in February 2024.