Gujarat's Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill, 2026, has received President Droupadi Murmu's assent, paving the way for the law to come into force in the state. The Gujarat government issued a gazette notification after the President approved the legislation. With this, Gujarat has become the second state after Uttarakhand to clear and enact a UCC law.

The Gujarat Assembly passed the bill on March 24. It introduces common legal rules for marriage, divorce, inheritance and live-in relationships. However, tribal communities have been kept outside the law's ambit.

One of the major changes under the UCC relates to property and inheritance. The law provides equal inheritance rights to sons and daughters. It also gives women the same legal rights as men in matters related to property and succession. The provisions seek to bring these matters under a common legal framework across Gujarat, while continuing the exemption for tribal communities.

The legislation also introduces common rules for marriage and divorce. Marriage registration has been made compulsory under the new system. Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel said the provision would help prevent marriages involving concealed identities or fraud.

The UCC also brings live-in relationships under a formal registration system. Couples in live-in relationships will have to register their relationships under the law. Children born from such relationships will receive legal rights, including rights in their father's property.

Patel said the registration requirement was not meant to promote live-in relationships. He said it was introduced to provide legal protection to women in changing social circumstances. He referred to cases such as the 'Shraddha Walkar' case while explaining the need for safeguards.

After the Assembly passed the bill, Patel described the legislation as necessary for protecting women and girls in Gujarat. During the concluding debate, he spoke about his responsibility as the state's leader and said, "Everyone calls me Dada-Dada. So it is my moral duty to take care of all the daughters, sisters and mothers of my state. I have to raise the stick of law to protect all the daughters and mothers, and that is what I did."

Patel also said the legislation was not aimed at interfering with religious freedom or taking away existing rights. He described the measure as an effort to address legal discrimination and said it was not directed against any particular community.

The Chief Minister said the law does not violate the Constitution and instead supplements its provisions. The UCC will now provide a common legal framework for marriage, divorce, inheritance and registered live-in relationships in Gujarat, with tribal communities remaining exempt.