Madhya Pradesh Cabinet approves UCC draft bill for presentation in State Assembly
The Madhya Pradesh Cabinet has approved a draft Uniform Civil Code (UCC) bill that mandates marriage registration and prohibits practices like polygamy and nikah halala. The bill includes specific exemptions for Scheduled Tribes to protect their cultural heritage and introduces new regulations for live-in relationships.
Why it matters
The implementation of a UCC in a major Indian state represents a significant shift in legal frameworks regarding personal laws and civil rights, sparking national debate on constitutional safeguards and religious freedom.
The Madhya Pradesh Cabinet on Sunday (July 19, 2026) approved the draft bill for a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the State at a special meeting held in Jagdishpur near Bhopal.
The Bill, prepared by a six-member committee headed by retired Supreme Court Judge Ranjana Prakash Desai, submitted its report to the Chief Minister recently, recommending that Scheduled Tribes (adivasis) be excluded from the purview of the UCC. It is now scheduled to be tabled in the Legislative Assembly in the monsoon session starting on Monday (July 20, 2026).
The draft bill provides special exemptions to the tribal communities of the State, such as Bhil, Gond, Korku, Baiga, Bhariya and Sahariya, to protect their “unique cultural heritage and traditional lifestyle”.
The bill seeks to completely prohibit polygamy and multiple marriages across all communities, while also declaring practices like nikaha halala as illegal and punishable offences.
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