Union Home Minister Amit Shah has announced that the Uniform Civil Code will be implemented before 2029 in 21 states governed by the BJP or its allies, while discussions are continuing with National Democratic Alliance partners and other organisations on a nationwide National Register of Citizens exercise.
Shah made the announcement at a press conference in Mumbai on Sunday. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and BJP national general secretary Vinod Tawde were present, according to Loksatta – Mumbai.
The proposed timeline places implementation before the next Lok Sabha election, which is scheduled to be held by 2029. Shah said the BJP had committed to introducing a Uniform Civil Code in its election manifesto and that all 21 states with BJP or allied governments would implement it within that period. He did not provide state-wise timelines, draft legislation details or a common implementation framework.
A Uniform Civil Code would create a common legal framework for personal matters currently governed by different community-based laws. The announcement, however, did not specify the provisions that would be included, the legislative process to be followed in each state or how differences between existing state laws would be addressed.
Shah also spoke about a proposed nationwide National Register of Citizens exercise. He said discussions were under way with NDA partners and various organisations, but he did not announce a fixed schedule for the exercise. He said decisions would be taken in coordination with state governments.
Referring to Manipur, Shah said there was a local demand for postponing the census and conducting the National Register of Citizens exercise first. The report did not provide further details about the nature of the demand, the government’s response or any decision on changing the census schedule.
The announcements were made during the launch of the Seva Sankalp campaign, planned across the country from September 17 to October 17 to mark Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 25 years in public life. Shah used the press conference to highlight decisions taken during Modi’s tenure, including the law against the practice of triple talaq, the removal of Articles 370 and 35A in Jammu and Kashmir, counter-insurgency operations and peace agreements in the Northeast.
On illegal immigration, Shah said the government remained firm on deporting unauthorised entrants. He stated that the government would identify each infiltrator and remove them from the country. The report did not specify the legal process, institutional mechanism or timeline that would govern such action.
The Uniform Civil Code announcement now leaves the next steps to the governments of the 21 states and the Centre’s consultations with alliance partners and other organisations. No state-specific legislation or formal implementation date was announced at the press conference.
