Union Home Minister Amit Shah has said the BJP-led NDA government is confident of bringing the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) to all 21 states ruled by the alliance before the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.
Shah made the statement during a press conference in Mumbai on Sunday, September 13, while outlining the central government’s political and governance priorities.
The UCC has been a major issue for the BJP and proposes a common set of personal laws for citizens, particularly in areas such as marriage, divorce, inheritance and adoption.
Shah Sets 2029 Target for UCC
Speaking about the government’s plans, Shah said the NDA is confident that all 21 states under its rule will implement the Uniform Civil Code before 2029.
The statement indicates that the BJP-led alliance wants to make UCC implementation a major part of its agenda in the years ahead.
However, the process of implementing a common civil code can differ from state to state and may involve legislative and administrative steps.
What Is the Uniform Civil Code?
The Uniform Civil Code refers to a common legal framework for personal matters that would apply to citizens irrespective of their religion.
At present, different communities in India are governed by different personal laws in areas such as marriage, divorce, inheritance and other family-related matters.
The idea behind the UCC is to replace these different personal-law systems with a common set of rules.
Supporters argue that a uniform system could bring greater equality and simplify laws. Critics, however, have raised concerns about religious freedom, cultural differences and how such a code would affect existing personal laws.
The issue has therefore remained politically and legally sensitive for decades.
BJP Government Highlights Article 370 and Naxalism
During his Mumbai press conference, Shah also highlighted several issues that the Modi government considers major achievements in the area of national security.
He said the government had dealt with long-running challenges related to Article 370, Naxalism and the situation in the Northeast.
Shah also attacked previous Congress-led governments, alleging that Indian politics before 2014 was affected by corruption, caste-based politics and dynastic politics.
According to Shah, the present government has followed an “India First” approach.
Shah Says Government Has Zero Tolerance Towards Terrorism
National security was another major part of Shah’s address.
He said the government’s policy towards terrorism was based on zero tolerance.
Shah pointed to operations including surgical strikes, air strikes and Operation Sindoor as examples of India’s response to security threats.
He said national security has been given priority across different sectors.
Modi Government Highlights India’s Economic Growth
Shah also spoke about India’s economic position and the government’s development agenda.
He said India had moved from being described among the world’s “Fragile Five” economies to becoming one of the world’s top five economies.
He also referred to India’s latest first-quarter economic growth figure of 7.8%, saying the country was performing strongly among major economies.
Shah further highlighted the growing recognition of Indian languages and said the government was working towards greater cultural recognition.
‘Viksit Bharat’ Goal by 2047
Shah also referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of creating a “Viksit Bharat” or developed India by August 15, 2047, marking 100 years of India’s Independence.
He said the vision has been presented as a long-term national goal and is intended to involve citizens across the country.
BJP Announces ‘Seva Sankalp Abhiyan’
The BJP and its allies are also preparing to launch a nationwide campaign called the “Seva Sankalp Abhiyan.”
According to Shah, the campaign will run from September 17 to October 17.
The campaign is intended to highlight Prime Minister Modi’s 25 years in public service, the government’s work and its plans for the future.
Shah said the campaign would also focus on encouraging public participation and presenting service as an important part of political and social life.
UCC Remains a Major Political Issue
Shah’s latest statement puts the Uniform Civil Code back at the centre of the BJP’s political agenda.
With the government now talking about implementation across all 21 NDA-ruled states before 2029, UCC could become an important issue in state politics as well as in the run-up to the next Lok Sabha election.
The actual implementation, however, would depend on the legislative process and the decisions taken by individual state governments.
