Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav on Friday, 22 May 2026 launched the official public consultation portal for the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the state, inviting citizens to submit their suggestions and opinions at ucc.mp.gov.in until 15 June 2026. The launch marks a significant step in Madhya Pradesh's effort to frame a state-level UCC that, in the Chief Minister's words, will be implemented 'while protecting the interests of all citizens.'

Context

Announcing the portal on social media, Dr. Mohan Yadav stated: 'हम सभी नागरिकों के हितों की सुरक्षा करते हुए UCC लागू करेंगे' ('We will implement the UCC while safeguarding the interests of all citizens'). He described the public's feedback as playing a 'historic role' in delivering equality, justice, and social security to every resident of Madhya Pradesh. The portal is designed to be accessible to the general public, and the window for submissions runs through the 15 June 2026 deadline.

At the launch event, Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai, retired judge of the Supreme Court of India and chairperson of the state's high-level UCC committee, participated virtually alongside other members of the committee. Her presence underscores the judicial gravitas the state government has lent to the consultation process.

Policy Backdrop

Article 44 of the Indian Constitution has since 1950 directed the State to endeavour to secure a Uniform Civil Code for all citizens — a directive principle that has remained largely unimplemented at the national level for over seven decades. A UCC would replace religion-specific personal laws governing marriage, divorce, inheritance, and adoption with a single, uniform framework applicable to all citizens regardless of faith.

Uttarakhand became the first Indian state to pass a UCC law in February 2024, following a similar process involving an expert committee and public feedback. Madhya Pradesh's initiative mirrors that template — a retired judicial figure at the helm of a high-level committee, followed by a structured online consultation before any draft legislation is tabled. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which governs Madhya Pradesh, has consistently included UCC implementation in its national manifesto commitments.

Stakeholders and Impact

The consultation portal is aimed at all Madhya Pradesh residents, with the government emphasising that every citizen's input will shape the final framework. Women's rights groups and civil society organisations are among the most closely watching stakeholders, given that a UCC is widely expected to standardise and potentially strengthen protections around marriage age, divorce rights, and inheritance for women across religious communities.

Religious communities — including Hindu, Muslim, Christian, and tribal groups — are key stakeholders whose personal laws would be directly affected by any enacted code. The public consultation window is intended to surface diverse perspectives before the high-level committee, chaired by Justice Desai, finalises its recommendations.

What's Next

The immediate milestone is the 15 June 2026 closure of the public feedback window on ucc.mp.gov.in. Following that, the high-level committee chaired by Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai is expected to consolidate the submissions and prepare formal recommendations for the state government. Any subsequent introduction of a UCC bill in the Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly will be closely watched as a potential model for other BJP-governed states and as a bellwether for national-level legislative momentum on the issue.