The Uniform Civil Code (UCC) aims to replace religion-based personal laws on issues like marriage, divorce, and inheritance with a single set of secular laws.
Article 44 of the Constitution states that the State should work towards securing a Uniform Civil Code for all citizens across India.
The country already has uniform criminal laws and shared civil laws in areas like taxation, contracts, and negotiable instruments.
Hindus follow laws like the Hindu Marriage Act of 1955 and the Hindu Succession Act of 1956, though many tribal communities within Hinduism may adhere to customary family laws under constitutional exceptions. Jains, Buddhists, and Sikhs are also covered under Hindu laws, with Sikh marriages optionally registered under the Anand Marriage Act of 2012. Christians and Parsis have their own personal laws, while Muslims are governed by the Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Application Act of 1937.
Supporters believe UCC would encourage secularism, national unity, and gender equality, while critics worry it could clash with religious and cultural rights.
The Law Commission, however, has leaned towards reforming discriminatory provisions in current personal laws to promote equality between men and women.