Madhya Pradesh approves UCC Bill

On July 19, 2026, the India — Madhya Pradesh Cabinet, led by Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, approved the draft Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill, 2026, during a special meeting at Jagdishpur (formerly Islam Nagar) near Bhopal. The bill will be introduced in the Monsoon Session of the state Assembly starting July 20. The proposed legislation establishes a common civil framework for marriage, divorce, maintenance, inheritance, and live-in relationships across all communities, while exempting Scheduled Tribes covered under Articles 342 and 366(25) of the Constitution. Key provisions include banning polygamy and triple talaq, criminalizing nikah halala, mandating registration of marriages, divorces, and live-in relationships, and granting equal legal status to children born through marriage, adoption, surrogacy, ART, and live-in relationships. The draft was prepared by the Justice Ranjana Desai Committee, which submitted its report to the Chief Minister last week. The bill draws from similar codes enacted in India — Uttarakhand (2024), India — Gujarat (2026), and India — Assam (2026). Yadav stated that nearly 80% of Muslim women and 40% of Muslim men who appeared before the committee supported the legislation. The bill prescribes penalties for non-compliance, including imprisonment and fines for failure to register live-in relationships.