Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Wednesday, 27 May 2026 congratulated Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma after the Assam Legislative Assembly passed a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) bill, calling it a historic step toward a developed, harmonious and empowered India.

Context

In his post, CM Dhami wrote that 'असम विधानसभा में समान नागरिक संहिता (UCC) कानून का पारित होना विकसित, समरस और सशक्त भारत की दिशा में एक ऐतिहासिक कदम है' — 'The passage of the Uniform Civil Code law in the Assam Assembly is a historic step toward a developed, harmonious and empowered India.' He extended warm congratulations to CM Sarma and his entire team for the decision.

Dhami also framed the development as a continuation of a momentum that originated in Uttarakhand, describing it as a stream that is now flowing across the country under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Policy Backdrop

Uttarakhand became the first Indian state to pass and enact a Uniform Civil Code law in February 2024, under CM Dhami's tenure — a landmark that the BJP had committed to in its national manifestos of 2014 and 2019. The UCC seeks to replace religion-specific personal laws with a common framework governing marriage, divorce, inheritance and adoption.

Dhami invoked Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar, Chairman of the Constituent Assembly's drafting committee, noting that the UCC advances Ambedkar's vision of equality and justice for all citizens. Article 44 of the Constitution lists a Uniform Civil Code among the Directive Principles of State Policy, providing its constitutional basis.

In his post, Dhami described the UCC as 'not merely a law, but a powerful means of protecting women's rights, ensuring social harmony, and guaranteeing equal justice for all citizens.'

Stakeholders and Impact

Proponents argue the code would bring legal parity for women across communities, particularly in matters of marriage, divorce and inheritance where personal laws have historically differed. Women's rights groups that have supported the UCC point to protections against practices such as unilateral divorce and unequal inheritance.

Religious communities with distinct personal law traditions have raised concerns about cultural and religious autonomy, making the UCC one of the more contested policy proposals in Indian public life. Assam's passage of the bill adds a second BJP-governed state to the UCC column, increasing political pressure on other states and the central government.

What's Next

With both Uttarakhand and Assam now having passed UCC legislation at the state level, attention will turn to other BJP-ruled states — particularly Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh — where similar moves have been discussed. Any acceleration at the state level could renew parliamentary debate on a national UCC framework. CM Dhami's statement signals that the BJP intends to present state-level UCC enactments as a building block toward that broader national goal.