UCC in West Bengal soon? The State Cabinet released a panel to examine the Uniform Civil Code Bill | Today’s news
In a major step towards the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in West Bengal, the state cabinet on Thursday approved the formation of a committee to review the UCC bill.
West Bengal Minister Agnimitra Paul said on Thursday that the panel would have four weeks to examine the draft legislation and submit its recommendations.
“The state cabinet has approved the formation of a committee to examine the West Bengal Uniform Civil Code Bill 2026,” Paul said after the cabinet meeting.
She added, “A committee headed by former Supreme Court judge Ranjana Prakash Desai will have four weeks to look into it and then it will be placed in the (West Bengal) Assembly.”
The state cabinet’s decision came three days after Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari formally launched the process of implementing the UCC in West Bengal.
The Uniform Civil Code was one of the key election promises of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the 2026 assembly polls that ended the Trinamool Congress’ 15-year rule in the state.
Announcing the initiative in the Assembly on Monday, Adhikari said the government would introduce the UCC bill during the extended budget session scheduled for August.
“The Uniform Civil Code will definitely be implemented in Bengal. There is a specific process for it… After studying the examples of Uttarakhand, Gujarat and Assam, we will bring this (UCC) bill,” Adhikari said after the uproar in the Assembly.
The Chief Minister clarified that ancient tribal communities and indigenous people will remain outside the ambit of the UCC Act.
What is UCC and what does it offer?
The Uniform Civil Code aims to establish a uniform set of rules that apply to all individuals regardless of their religious or cultural heritage.
In 2024, Uttarakhand became the first state in India to pass the UCC Bill. It officially came into force on 27 January 2025. Assam also passed the UCC Act in 2026.
It created a comprehensive legal framework aimed at unifying personal laws relating to marriage, divorce, inheritance, adoption and succession for all citizens of Uttarakhand, irrespective of religion or community.
“These rules are designed to promote equality, justice and rational administration in civil affairs,” says the Uttarakhand government.
The UCC remains a controversial topic in India, with proponents arguing that removing discriminatory traditions will promote social justice and gender equality, while opponents raise concerns about its non-secular nature and cultural sensitivity.
When will UCC be implemented in West Bengal?
Suvendu Adhikari told the gathering that the committee will examine as many as nine issues, including marriage, divorce, inheritance, child custody and adoption. He said he would also seek people’s views and suggestions before submitting the report to the government.
“In August, after we accept the recommendations of this committee, we will bring the UCC bill. And this bill will be implemented in West Bengal. If you have something to say, you can present your views before the committee. But let me make it clear – we are determined to implement UCC in West Bengal,” Adhikari reiterated, according to the Indian Express.
