The Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly passed a Uniform Civil Code bill on Tuesday, making the state one of the first to advance such legislation at the state level.
The bill seeks to establish a common set of civil laws governing matters such as marriage, divorce and inheritance for all residents of the state, regardless of religion, a long-standing demand of the ruling party.
The Congress strongly criticized the move, with party leaders in the state accusing the government of using the legislation for political polarization rather than genuine reform. Opposition members raised objections during the debate, though the bill passed with the ruling party’s majority in the House.
The legislation will require further procedural steps before it can take effect, and is likely to face legal challenges similar to those seen in other states that have pursued uniform civil code measures.
The bill’s passage positions Madhya Pradesh alongside a small number of Indian states that have moved to codify a uniform civil code, a step opposition parties in the state say deserves broader public consultation before implementation.
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Sources:
https://indianexpress.com/archive/2026/07/21/