UNIFORM CIVIL CODE IN INDIA: A PATH TO LEGAL UNIFORMITY OR A CHALLENGE TO DIVERSITY?

AUTHOR – MANAN BADAMIYA & KARTIK KAMTE, STUDENT AT KES SHRI JYANTILAL H PATEL LAW COLLEGE

BEST CITATION – MANAN BADAMIYA & KARTIK KAMTE, UNIFORM CIVIL CODE IN INDIA: A PATH TO LEGAL UNIFORMITY OR A CHALLENGE TO DIVERSITY?, INDIAN JOURNAL OF LEGAL REVIEW (IJLR), 5 (1) OF 2025, PG. 866-870, APIS – 3920 – 0001 & ISSN – 2583-2344.

ABSTRACT

India’s Uniform Civil Code (UCC), which stands at the intersection of legal uniformity and cultural variety, has long been a topic of legal, social, and political discussion. The UCC, as envisioned in Article 44 of the Directive Principles of State Policy, seeks to establish a common set of civil laws pertaining to marriage, divorce, inheritance, and adoption in order to replace religiously based personal laws. Opponents worry that the UCC may jeopardize religious liberties and upend India’s pluralistic character, while supporters contend that it would advance gender justice, equality, and national unity. This essay looks at the UCC’s development over time, significant court rulings, and conflicting viewpoints about its application. It assesses whether a unified legal system is feasible in a nation with a wide range of personal laws and long-standing religious customs. In order to determine whether the UCC is a practical answer for legal consistency or a threat to India’s multicultural fabric, the article also examines recent developments, such as government efforts and legal commissions. Lastly, it looks at possible reform avenues that strike a compromise between diversity appreciation and legal coherence.