Bhopal July 14, 2026

Madhya Pradesh moved a step closer towards implementing a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) on Tuesday, with the state government's high-level committee submitting its final report to Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav. The report, prepared after extensive legal study and public consultation, includes a draft UCC Bill and recommends that Scheduled Tribes be kept outside its ambit.

Receiving the report, Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav thanked the committee for completing the assignment within the stipulated time and said the state would now proceed with the next stage of the legislative process. He also urged the Congress to clarify its stand on the proposed Uniform Civil Code.

The committee's report has been compiled in three volumes. The first volume contains the panel's recommendations based on an examination of international practices, national laws and existing legal provisions in Madhya Pradesh. Spread across 10 chapters, it analyses various personal and family laws before presenting the committee's recommendations.

The second volume contains the draft legislation proposed by the committee. Prepared in accordance with the legal framework currently applicable in Madhya Pradesh, the draft Bill comprises four parts, 404 sections and seven schedules, providing a comprehensive legal framework covering personal and family matters.

The third volume documents the public consultation process undertaken by the committee. According to the report, more than 9.58 lakh suggestions and responses were received through district-level meetings, state-level consultations and an online portal. The report includes an analysis of the feedback based on subject, gender and community.

One of the committee's key recommendations is that Scheduled Tribes should remain exempt from the proposed Uniform Civil Code, recognising the constitutional protections and distinct customary practices applicable to tribal communities.

The committee had been entrusted with examining laws relating to marriage, divorce, maintenance, succession, adoption and live-in relationships, and preparing a framework suited to Madhya Pradesh's social, cultural and economic conditions. According to the report, the proposed code has been drafted with emphasis on gender equality, respect for existing customs and traditions, protection of constitutional values and public policy, while ensuring that diverse ceremonial practices remain unaffected.

Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav also expressed his gratitude to committee chairperson Justice (Retd.) Ranjana Prakash Desai, former Supreme Court judge, along with senior advisor Shatrughan Singh and member Anup Nair, who could not be present during the submission of the report. Other committee members, including Prof. Gopal Sharma, Budhpal Singh, Shobha Paithankar and Member Secretary Ajay Katesaria, were present on the occasion.

Following its submission, the report has been forwarded to the Law Department for examination. After legal scrutiny and necessary revisions, the proposed Bill will be placed before the Committee of Secretaries and subsequently before the State Cabinet. If approved, the government is expected to introduce the legislation during the upcoming Monsoon Session of the Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly.

Commenting on the development, Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav said the committee had completed its work after extensive consultations involving citizens from different religious communities. He said the Congress should make its position on the proposed Uniform Civil Code clear. Referring to issues such as the UCC and the Bhojshala dispute, the Chief Minister alleged that the Opposition viewed such matters through the prism of vote-bank politics. These remarks were made by the Chief Minister and have not drawn an immediate response from the Congress.