19 July,2026 04:05 PM IST | Bhopal | mid-day online correspondent
MP CM Mohan Yadav approves UCC draft bill for presentation in state assembly. File pic
The Madhya Pradesh Cabinet on Sunday approved the draft Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill, paving the way for its introduction during the upcoming Monsoon Session of the State Assembly. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said the proposed legislation was prepared after extensive consultations with different sections of society and has received broad public support.
The approval comes a day before the five-day Monsoon Session of the Madhya Pradesh Assembly begins, where the government is expected to present the Bill for discussion and further legislative proceedings.
Speaking after the Cabinet meeting in Bhopal, Chief Minister Yadav said the draft was prepared after taking suggestions from representatives of various communities and stakeholders. According to him, the majority of those consulted supported the proposed legislation.
He said the UCC would apply to all sections of society in the state, except Scheduled Tribes (Adivasis), who have been kept outside its purview in view of their distinct customs, traditions and constitutional protections.
The Chief Minister said the draft Bill retains the legal minimum marriage age of 21 years for men and 18 years for women. It also makes the registration of marriages mandatory, a provision aimed at ensuring legal recognition of marriages and improving transparency in civil records.
The proposed legislation seeks to establish a uniform legal framework governing personal and family matters while remaining consistent with constitutional principles and existing legal safeguards.
The draft was prepared by a high-level committee headed by retired Supreme Court judge Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai, which was constituted by the state government to examine the feasibility of implementing a Uniform Civil Code in Madhya Pradesh.
The committee studied laws and practices relating to marriage, divorce, maintenance, inheritance, adoption and live-in relationships, while taking into account the state's social, cultural and economic conditions.
According to an earlier government statement, the panel aimed to promote gender equality, uphold constitutional values and public policy, and ensure that customary religious and ceremonial practices remain unaffected wherever appropriate. The committee also recommended excluding Scheduled Tribes from the proposed law.
If introduced and passed by the Assembly, the Bill would mark another significant step in the implementation of a Uniform Civil Code at the state level, following similar legislative initiatives in other parts of the country.
(With inputs from PTI)
