Union Home Minister Amit Shah has announced an ambitious deadline for the expansion of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), saying the common personal law framework will be implemented in all 21 states governed by the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance before 2029.
Amit Shah made the announcement during a press conference in Mumbai on Sunday, where he said the process of introducing the UCC had already begun in several states. Expressing confidence about taking the policy across all NDA-ruled states, Amit Shah said the remaining states would also adopt it before the next general election.
“We introduced the Uniform Civil Code in several states. I am confident that we will implement the UCC in all 21 states governed by the BJP-led NDA before 2029,” Amit Shah said.
The Uniform Civil Code proposes a common set of personal laws for citizens, regardless of their religion. Matters including marriage, divorce, inheritance and adoption are among the areas that could come under a uniform legal framework.
Amit Shah’s statement gives the UCC renewed prominence on the BJP-led alliance’s political and governance agenda ahead of 2029. The issue has been a longstanding priority for the BJP, which has argued that different personal laws based on religion should eventually be replaced by a common framework.
UCC rollout gains political momentum
The implementation of the UCC has already begun in some parts of the country, with states taking steps towards establishing common rules governing personal matters.
Amit Shah’s latest remarks indicate that the Centre now wants the policy to move beyond individual state initiatives and become a broader feature of governance across NDA-ruled states.
The proposed uniform framework has also remained a politically contentious issue, with supporters describing it as a step towards equality before the law, while critics have raised concerns over its potential impact on religious and customary practices.
By setting 2029 as the target, Amit Shah has effectively placed the UCC within the wider political roadmap of the BJP-led alliance for the coming years.
Amit Shah links UCC agenda to broader governance push
The Home Minister also used the Mumbai press conference to highlight the government’s record on national security, economic growth and internal security.
Amit Shah said the government’s approach since 2014 represented a shift towards what he called “performance-based politics”. He cited measures involving Article 370, Naxalism and security in the Northeast as examples of issues that had received greater attention.
On terrorism, Amit Shah said surgical strikes, air strikes and Operation Sindoor reflected the government’s policy of maintaining “zero tolerance” towards terror attacks.
He also reiterated the government’s position on illegal immigration, saying every illegal infiltrator would be identified and removed from the country.
NRC discussions continue in Manipur
On the National Register of Citizens, Amit Shah said discussions were continuing in Manipur with political leaders and other stakeholders.
He was asked whether the NRC would be implemented in the state using 1951 as the baseline before the upcoming elections. Amit Shah said a decision had not yet been taken and that the government would make an announcement once the discussions were complete.
He also declined to provide a deadline for a nationwide NRC.
Focus on Modi’s 25 years in public life
Amit Shah additionally announced a month-long “Seva Sankalp Abhiyan” beginning September 17 to mark Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 25 years in public life.
The campaign will continue until October 17 and will involve the BJP, NDA partners, voluntary organisations and citizens across the country. Programmes are planned from the state level down to districts, constituencies and polling booths.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the state government and BJP would participate in the campaign, which he described as an initiative focused on public welfare.
However, it was Amit Shah’s UCC announcement that stood out as one of the most significant political takeaways from the Mumbai press conference, with the Home Minister making clear that the BJP-led NDA wants the common civil code extended across all its governed states before 2029.