A Uniform Civil Code (UCC) is a proposal to replace personal laws based on religious scriptures and customs with a common set of laws governing every citizen irrespective of their religion, ethnicity and background. The objectives of implementing a UCC include promoting gender equality, social justice and national integration by ensuring uniformity and equality in personal laws related to Marriage, divorce, maintenance, inheritance, adoption and succession of the property.

Uniform Civil Code resonates with one country one rule, to be applied to all religious communities. The term, 'Uniform Civil Code' is explicitly mentioned in Part 4, Article 44 of the Indian Constitution. Article 44 states that, "The State shall endeavor to secure for the citizens a uniform civil code throughout the territory of India."

A Uniform Civil Code means that all sections of the society irrespective of their religion shall be treated equally according to a national civil code, which shall be applicable to all uniformly. Goa is the only Indian state to have a Uniform Civil Code in the form of common family law.

In our next article we will see components of draft bill of Uniform Civil Code proposed by Uttarakhand Assembly.