UCC in Uttarakhand Gets President's Assent | 14 Mar 2024

The Uniform Civil Code Bill, passed by the Uttarakhand Assembly has become a law with President Droupadi Murmu giving her assent to it.

Uttarakhand is the first state in the country after Independence to adopt the UCC.

The President gave her assent to the Uniform Civil Code, Uttarakhand, 2024 under Article 201 of the Constitution of India.
UCC will play an important role in promoting harmony by proving the importance of social equality.
With its implementation in the state alongside providing equal rights to all citizens, the oppression of women will also be curbed.

The Uniform Civil Code is mentioned in Article 44 of the Indian Constitution, which is part of the Directive Principles of State Policy.
These principles are not legally enforceable but are meant to guide the state in making policies.
- It has been supported by some as a way to promote national integration and gender justice, but opposed by others as a threat to religious freedom and diversity.
The only state in India that has a UCC is Goa, which retained its common family law known as the Goa Civil Code after it was liberated from Portuguese rule in 1961.
The rest of India follows different personal laws based on their religious or community identity.

It states that when a Bill is reserved for the consideration of the President, the President may assent to or withhold assent from the Bill.
The President may also direct the Governor to return the Bill to the House or Houses of the Legislature of the State for reconsideration.