India’s Home Minister Amit Shah has promised a wider rollout of the Uniform Civil Code across all states ruled by the BJP-led alliance, a move that continues to spark debate among minority communities.
India already follows one criminal law for everyone, but personal matters such as marriage, divorce and inheritance still follow different rules based on each community’s traditions and faith. Replacing these varied systems with a single Uniform Civil Code has long been a key goal of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party.
At least four states have already put the code into practice. Speaking on Sunday, Shah said the government is confident of introducing it in all 21 states governed by the National Democratic Alliance before the next national elections in 2029.
Supporters argue the code will give Muslim women the same rights as others by ending polygamy, ensuring equal property inheritance for sons and daughters, and requiring divorce proceedings to take place in civil courts. They present it as a step toward equality and modernisation.
Critics, especially among India’s estimated 220 million Muslims, the third-largest Muslim population in the world, fear the change will interfere with their religious practices and personal laws. They view the push as an attempt to impose a uniform system that overlooks the country’s diverse traditions.
India remains a majority Hindu nation of 1.4 billion people. Prime Minister Modi secured a third term in 2024 but now leads a coalition government. The next general elections are scheduled for 2029, and the ruling party is using the civil code issue as part of its broader agenda.
The debate over a common set of personal laws has deep roots in Indian politics. While the government frames the Uniform Civil Code as a tool for national unity and women’s rights, minority groups continue to express concern that it may limit their freedom to follow community customs. The coming years will show how far the planned expansion reaches across the states.
