Bengal government to table Uniform Civil Code Bill in Assembly on Monday

Kolkata,UPDATED: Jun 26, 2026 13:10 IST

The Suvendu Adhikari-led BJP government in West Bengal is set to table the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill for discussion, consideration and passage in the Assembly on Monday during the ongoing Budget session, a source told India Today. The move comes much earlier than the party's stated six-month deadline for implementing the UCC after coming to power in the state.

The proposed UCC Bill is being seen as one of the most closely watched policy initiatives of the state’s first BJP government. The party had promised in its manifesto ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections that it would implement the UCC within six months of assuming office in Bengal. Union Home Minister Amit Shah had highlighted the promise while releasing the party’s election manifesto, or “Sankalp Patra,” in April.

The UCC proposes a common set of civil laws on matters such as marriage, divorce, inheritance and adoption for all citizens, regardless of faith, replacing religion-based personal laws.

The proposal specifically includes a ban on polygamy and triple talaq. During his campaign in the state before the polls, Home Minister Shah had said, “Is it appeasement to have uniform laws for every Indian citizen, or is it appeasement when a citizen is permitted to marry four times while another can get married once?”

The BJP has for years maintained that a uniform legal framework would promote equality before the law and strengthen national integration.

Supporters of the proposal say it would ensure equal rights for all citizens and remove disparities arising from religion-based personal laws. They have also pointed to BJP-ruled states that have either implemented or moved towards similar legal changes.

Opposition parties, including the Trinamool Congress, have earlier raised concerns over the UCC, arguing that personal laws are closely tied to religious freedom and community identity.

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Inputs from PTI