Madhya Pradesh Approves Uniform Civil Code Bill

Key facts

• The Madhya Pradesh Cabinet has approved the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), introducing common rules on marriage, inheritance, and live-in relationships.
• Scheduled Tribes (STs) and Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) living in protected areas are exempt from the UCC's provisions.
• The proposed law permits only one marriage while a spouse is alive, and divorce is recognized only through legal procedure and court orders.
• Minimum legal age for marriage remains 21 for men and 18 for women, with mandatory registration from gram panchayats to municipal corporations.
• Equal inheritance and property rights for sons and daughters replace earlier provisions allowing smaller shares for women.
• Couples entering live-in relationships must register within one month, with the same minimum age criteria as marriage.
• The law proposes up to five years' imprisonment if a married person enters a live-in relationship with another individual.
• Chief Minister Mohan Yadav stated the code aims to ensure equal rights for all citizens regardless of religion.