President Droupadi Murmu has given her assent to the Gujarat Uniform Civil Code, clearing the principal constitutional hurdle for a common set of civil laws governing marriage, divorce, succession and live-in relationships in the state.

The Gujarat Assembly passed the legislation in March following a debate lasting nearly eight hours. Presidential assent was granted on September 17, and the legislation was subsequently published in the state’s extraordinary gazette on October 1.

The assent does not mean that the code has immediately come into force. The Gujarat government must first formulate the supporting rules and issue a separate notification appointing the commencement date. Until that process is completed, the existing personal-law system will continue to operate.

Once implemented, Gujarat will become the second Indian state after Uttarakhand to enforce a comprehensive Uniform Civil Code enacted after independence. Goa already follows a common family-law system derived from the Portuguese Civil Code, but its framework predates its incorporation into India.

The Gujarat Uniform Civil Code seeks to replace religion-specific personal laws in several areas with a common statutory framework. It establishes uniform conditions for marriage, prohibits bigamy and creates common grounds and procedures for divorce.

The legislation also changes the rules governing inheritance when a person dies without leaving a valid will. Heirs are divided into different categories, with the spouse, children and parents placed in the first class. Step-parents and paternal and maternal grandparents form another category, followed by other eligible relatives.

Live-in relationships are formally recognised but must be registered with the designated authority. The law also provides maintenance rights for women in such relationships and recognises the legal rights of children born to unmarried couples. The beginning and termination of a live-in relationship will have to be reported under procedures established by the government.

The code will apply throughout Gujarat and to Gujarat residents living outside the state. However, members of Scheduled Tribes are exempt. The legislation also excludes individuals and communities whose customary rights are protected under Part XXI of the Constitution.

The exemption reflects concerns that applying a completely uniform framework to tribal communities could displace established customary practices governing marriage, kinship and inheritance.

The code was drafted following recommendations from a committee headed by former Supreme Court judge Ranjana Prakash Desai. The same former judge chaired the expert committee responsible for drafting Uttarakhand’s UCC, and several provisions in Gujarat’s legislation follow the framework adopted by that state.

The measure advances a longstanding constitutional and political debate. Article 44 of the Constitution directs the state to endeavour to secure a Uniform Civil Code for citizens, although the provision is part of the Directive Principles and is not directly enforceable by courts.

Supporters argue that religion should not determine civil rights and that common rules can strengthen gender equality, particularly in matters involving divorce, maintenance, inheritance and polygamy. Opponents have raised concerns about religious freedom, privacy and the compulsory registration of live-in relationships.

Gujarat’s law is also part of a wider state-level campaign. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has set a target of implementing UCC laws across BJP and NDA-governed states before the 2029 general election.

The focus will now shift from presidential assent to enforcement. The rules notified by the Gujarat government will determine registration procedures, documentary requirements and how residents interact with the new system in practice.