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Gandhinagar: The Assembly of Gujarat on Tuesday approved the Gujarat Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill 2026, seven hours later following a marathon debate, becoming the second state after Uttarakhand to adopt a common civil code.

The bill provides a common legal status of marriage, divorce, succession, and live-in relations to all residents regardless of religion, except Scheduled Tribes.

The main points of it are that marriages and live-ins must be registered, and the failure to do so results in a possible prison sentence of not more than 3 months or a fine of not less than 10000. Live-in relationships have to be terminated as well. The legislation prohibits polygamy/bigamy and gives equal inheritance rights to sons and daughters.

According to Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, it was a move towards gender justice and national unity. The bill was opposed by the Congress, which branded it anti-Muslim and against basic rights.

The UCC Bill is also enforced on the residents of Gujarat residing outside the state, as well as elevating the protection of forcible or fraudulent marriages.