West Bengal Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill: The Suvendu Adhikari led government is expected to table the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill in the West Bengal Assembly on Monday, just two months after the BJP came to power in the state. The Bill aims to introduce one common set of civil laws for marriage, divorce, inheritance, succession and adoption that will apply to people of all religions in West Bengal. It will replace the different personal laws followed by various religious communities with one common legal system, while keeping constitutional exemptions for certain groups. The BJP says this is an important election promise and believes every citizen should be governed by the same civil laws, no matter what religion they follow. Opposition parties, however, have raised concerns about constitutional protections, the rights of different communities and whether such a major change should be introduced without wider public consultation.
Here is everything you need to know about the Bill, why it is being introduced now, and which other states have already adopted similar laws.
Why Is The UCC Bill Being Tabled Now In West Bengal?
The BJP had promised in its election manifesto (Sankalp Patra) that it would implement the Uniform Civil Code within six months of forming the government in West Bengal. While releasing the manifesto, Union Home Minister Amit Shah had said the UCC would ensure equality before the law for all citizens, regardless of religion. On Friday, Suvendu Adhikari gave the clearest indication yet that the government plans to move ahead with the Bill during the current Assembly session.
Which Other States Have Already Adopted The Uniform Civil Code?
If the Bill is passed, West Bengal will become the fourth state to move towards implementing a Uniform Civil Code. Goa is currently the only state that has had a common civil code for decades. It follows the Portuguese Civil Code of 1867, which continued even after Goa became part of India in 1961. Uttarakhand became the first state in independent India to pass its own Uniform Civil Code law. The Uttarakhand Assembly passed the law in February 2024, and it came into effect on January 27, 2025. Gujarat became the second state after passing the Gujarat Uniform Civil Code Bill on March 24, 2026. Assam became the third state and the first in Northeast India to pass a UCC Bill on May 29, 2026.
What Is Uniform Civil Code?
The Uniform Civil Code (UCC) is a long discussed proposal that aims to create one common set of personal laws for all Indian citizens, regardless of their religion. At present, issues such as marriage, divorce, inheritance, adoption and maintenance are governed by different personal laws followed by different religious communities. Articles 25 to 28 of the Indian Constitution guarantee religious freedom and allow communities to follow their own religious practices. At the same time, Article 44 encourages the government to work towards a common civil code for all citizens. Because of this, the UCC remains one of the most debated legal and political issues in India, balancing religious freedom with the idea of equal civil laws for everyone.
