Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced on Thursday, 9 July 2026, that a committee has been constituted for the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) and that a Bill based on the committee's report is expected to be introduced during the upcoming Winter Session of the Maharashtra Legislature in Nagpur.

Speaking from the Vidhan Sabha in Mumbai during the Monsoon Session 2026, Fadnavis stated in both English and Marathi: 'समान नागरी कायद्यासंदर्भात समिती गठित केली असून, या समितीच्या अहवालाच्या आधारे संबंधित विधेयक नागपूर येथे होणाऱ्या हिवाळी अधिवेशनात मांडण्याचा प्रयत्न आहे' — meaning, 'A committee has been constituted regarding the Uniform Civil Code, and based on the committee's report, an effort will be made to table the related Bill at the Winter Session to be held in Nagpur.'

Context

The announcement came on the floor of the Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha and signals that the state government is actively moving toward codifying a uniform set of personal laws applicable to all citizens regardless of religion. The Winter Session of the Maharashtra Legislature is traditionally held in Nagpur, the state's winter capital. The Chief Minister's statement indicates that the committee's work is sufficiently advanced for legislation to be placed before lawmakers in the coming months.

Policy Backdrop

The Uniform Civil Code is enshrined as a directive principle under Article 44 of the Constitution of India, which calls on the state to endeavour to secure a common civil code for citizens. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has included UCC implementation in its national manifestos since 2014, making it one of the party's long-standing ideological commitments. Uttarakhand became the first state in India to enact a UCC statute in February 2024, following a similar committee-driven process, setting a legislative template that BJP-governed states have since studied closely.

Maharashtra's move follows the broader pattern of state-level experimentation with uniform personal laws, with expert committees being used to build legal and consultative groundwork before a Bill is tabled. A UCC would replace religion-specific personal laws governing marriage, divorce, inheritance, and adoption with a common framework applicable to all communities.

Stakeholders and Impact

Religious communities, women's rights groups, and legal experts are among the principal stakeholders who have engaged with the UCC debate nationally. Proponents argue that a uniform code would advance gender equality by replacing personal laws that, in some communities, place women at a disadvantage in matters of marriage and inheritance. Critics, including several minority community organisations and constitutional scholars, contend that such legislation must be preceded by wide consultative processes to protect religious freedoms guaranteed under the Constitution.

If the Bill is introduced during the Winter Session, it would mark a significant legislative milestone for Maharashtra — India's second-most-populous state — and could intensify the national conversation around UCC ahead of future electoral cycles.

What's Next

The immediate watch-point is the release of the committee's report and its recommendations, which will shape the content and scope of the proposed Bill. Legislative debates, committee scrutiny in the Vidhan Sabha, and potential legal challenges are all expected once the Bill is formally tabled. The Chief Minister's framing — 'an effort will be made' — suggests the timeline is conditional on the committee concluding its work before the Winter Session convenes in Nagpur.

Maharashtra's UCC Bill, if passed, would make it the second state after Uttarakhand to enact such legislation, adding significant political and legal weight to the national push for a common civil code.