Daily News Analysis

Uniform Civil Code (UCC)

stylish_lining

Why in the News?

Prime Minister's recent Independence Day speech emphasized the need for a Uniform Civil Code (UCC), advocating for a secular civil framework over the current religion-based personal laws.

About Uniform Civil Code (UCC)

  • Definition: UCC refers to a unified set of personal laws applicable to all citizens, regardless of religion, governing matters such as marriage, divorce, maintenance, inheritance, adoption, and succession.
  • Current Status:
  • Most personal matters in India are governed by respective religious laws.
  • Goa has a form of a common civil code under the Portuguese Civil Code of 1867, while Uttarakhand adopted UCC in 2024.
  • The 21st Law Commission of India (2018) suggested reforms in family laws rather than an immediate formulation of UCC.

Need for UCC in India

  • Constitutional Duty: Article 44 mandates the state to secure a UCC for all citizens, promoting gender justice, national integration, and equality before the law.
  • Modernizing Laws: Current laws dividing citizens based on religion must be abolished to facilitate societal progress (e.g., polygamy in Muslim law).
  • International Obligations: Aligning with human rights conventions, UCC can strengthen India’s commitment to international norms.
  • Simplification of Laws: A standardized legal framework would ensure efficient dispute resolution.
  • Adapting to Contemporary Society: UCC would promote inclusivity and individual freedoms, aligning laws with modern values.

Supreme Court Judgments on UCC

  • Ahmed Khan v. Shah Bano Begum (1985): Advocated for gender justice and uniformity in personal laws.
  • Sarla Mudgal v. Union of India (1995): Called for reforming personal laws to prevent misuse.
  • Shayra Bano v. Union of India (2017): Declared talaq-e-biddat as arbitrary, reinforcing the need for reform.

Issues Associated with Implementing UCC

  • Cultural Diversity: UCC could undermine cultural and religious identities, potentially violating Article 25 (freedom of religion).
  • Lack of Consensus: Implementing UCC without community agreement could lead to social unrest.
  • Federalism Concerns: Critics argue that UCC could infringe upon states' legislative powers, undermining cooperative federalism.

Way Forward for Implementing UCC in India

  • Consensus Building: Engage various stakeholders through inter-faith dialogues to prevent social discord.
  • Socio-economic Impact Analysis: Consider the effects on marginalized communities, incorporating protective provisions.
  • Education and Awareness: Promote understanding of UCC’s principles to foster a progressive outlook.
  • Codification of Personal Laws: Establish universal principles through codification to ensure fairness and consistency in legal matters.

Maharashtra Scraps Hindi as Compulsory Third Language

The Maharashtra government recently scrapped its Government Resolutions (GRs) that mandated Hindi as a compulsory third language from Grades 1 to 5 in Marathi and English medium schools. While the
Share It

River Pollution in India

The Delhi government's focus on cleaning up the Yamuna River is part of a larger national effort to rejuvenate the Ganga River and its tributaries, in alignment with the Namami Gange Programme
Share It

Infrastructure Failures

The recent collapse of the Mahisagar River Bridge in Vadodara, which tragically claimed the lives of 20 people, underscores the growing concern over India's infrastructure quality. Similar
Share It

Special Intensive Revision (SIR)

The Supreme Court (SC) is currently reviewing the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) process for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, suggesting that Aadhaar,
Share It

GM Crop

In ongoing trade talks, the United States is advocating for India to open its agriculture market to genetically modified (GM) crops. However, India has firmly rejected this proposal, citing concer
Share It

India-Brazil Relations

India and Brazil share a growing and dynamic bilateral relationship that has evolved across various sectors since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1948. Their Strategic Partnership, formali
Share It

Legislative Productivity

The Lok Sabha Speaker’s remarks about the need to enhance legislative productivity reflect growing concerns about the diminishing effectiveness of India’s legislative bodies. The chall
Share It

Economic Growth

India's rapid urbanization is set to dramatically shape its future. The transformation of its cities holds immense potential for economic growth, but it also brings significant challenges. As
Share It

Global South

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Brazil from July 2-9, 2025, for the BRICS summit, was not only his longest international visit in 11 years but also marked a significant diplomatic outr
Share It

Maharashtra’s Special Public Security Bill, 2024

The Maharashtra Assembly has recently passed the Special Public Security Bill, 2024, aimed at combating “urban Maoism” and left-wing extremism in the state. The Bill criminalizes activ
Share It

Newsletter Subscription


ACQ IAS
ACQ IAS