Madhya Pradesh has received more than 9 lakh suggestions from citizens on the proposed Uniform Civil Code (UCC), with nearly 90% of respondents expressing support for its implementation, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav informed his cabinet on Tuesday, 23 June. The state government is now on track to finalise the UCC draft by 5 July, with the Bill potentially tabled in the upcoming Assembly session.

Scale of the Public Outreach

The consultation exercise was among the most expansive undertaken by any Indian state on civil law reform. The Madhya Pradesh government dispatched over 3 crore SMS messages to residents across all districts and social segments to solicit feedback. State Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Minister Chaitanya Kumar Kashyap, who briefed the media after the cabinet meeting, described the campaign as 'a massive and significant public exercise.'

'Suggestions were sought from every district and every citizen,' Minister Kashyap said. 'Through this extensive exercise, more than nine lakh suggestions have been received.' He added that compilation of the remaining inputs is currently under way, with all feasible suggestions to be incorporated by 30 June.

Minority Community Support Highlighted

A notable aspect of the government's briefing was its emphasis on support from minority communities. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav reportedly told cabinet colleagues that backing has come from 'many women and men of the minority community,' including Muslim women. Minister Kashyap reiterated this point publicly, framing it as evidence of broad societal acceptance of the proposed code across Madhya Pradesh.

This comes amid a national debate over the UCC, which critics — particularly opposition parties and several minority groups — argue could override personal laws rooted in religious traditions. The government's claim of minority support, if substantiated, would represent a significant political data point in that debate.

High-Power Committee and Draft Timeline

A high-power committee headed by retired Supreme Court judge Ranjana Desai is overseeing the review of all suggestions. According to Minister Kashyap, the committee is 'meticulously examining every input' before finalising the legislative draft.

The final draft of the UCC Bill is expected to be submitted to the state government by 5 July. 'If possible, the government will introduce the Civil Code Bill in the upcoming Assembly session,' Kashyap said. No specific session date has been confirmed yet.

What Happens Next

Madhya Pradesh would join Uttarakhand — which enacted its own UCC in 2024 — as one of the first Indian states to legislate on the code. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-governed state has positioned UCC as a flagship governance reform, aligning with the party's long-standing national position on the issue.

With the draft due within two weeks, attention will now shift to the legislative calendar and whether the government can secure floor time in the Assembly session. The UCC's passage in Madhya Pradesh would add fresh momentum to the broader national conversation on civil law uniformity.