Chhattisgarh sets up panel for preparing UCC draft

1. At a Glance

• Chhattisgarh became the third BJP-ruled State to move on a Uniform Civil Code (UCC), after Uttarakhand and Gujarat. [1]
• UCC is a Directive Principle of State Policy under Article 44 of the Constitution — non-justiciable but politically salient. [1][4]
• Tests both static constitutional law (DPSPs, personal law) and current affairs (state-level UCC rollouts) — a recurring UPSC theme since Uttarakhand's 2024 Act.
• Federal dimension: UCC in India is being implemented state-by-state rather than via a central law, raising questions on legislative competence (Concurrent List — Entry 5).

2. Why in the News

• 16 April 2026 (article date): Chhattisgarh Cabinet, chaired by CM Vishnu Deo Sai, approved constitution of a high-level committee to draft a UCC for the state. [1]
• Formal government order issued by the General Administration Department on 25 June 2026, setting up a five-member panel. [2]
• Comes after Uttarakhand implemented its UCC (notified 27 January 2025) and the Gujarat Assembly passed the UCC Bill, 2026 in March 2026. [1][3]

3. Background & Evolution

• Article 44 (Directive Principle): "The State shall endeavour to secure for the citizens a uniform civil code throughout the territory of India." [1]
• 2019: Uttarakhand promised a UCC in BJP's state election manifesto; committee headed by Justice (Retd.) Ranjana Prakash Desai constituted to draft it.
• February 2024: Uttarakhand Assembly passed UCC Bill; notified into force 27 January 2025 — India's first state-level UCC. [1]
• 24–25 March 2026: Gujarat Assembly debated and passed the Uniform Civil Code Bill, 2026 (201-page legislation) by voice vote — second state. [3]
• 16 April 2026: Chhattisgarh Cabinet approves committee formation (announcement stage). [1]
• 25 June 2026: Chhattisgarh formally notifies the 5-member drafting committee. [2]

4. Core Static Facts

5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis

Legal/Constitutional

• UCC sits in the Concurrent List (personal law, Entry 5) — states can legislate, subject to compatibility with central law and possible Presidential assent for repugnancy under Article 254.
• DPSPs (Article 44) are non-justiciable (Article 37) but courts (e.g., Sarla Mudgal, Shah Bano) have repeatedly urged UCC implementation.
• Exclusion of Scheduled Tribes from Gujarat's UCC raises questions about consistency with Article 366(25)/Fifth-Sixth Schedule protections and Article 44's "uniform" intent. [3]

Social

• Direct impact on gender equality — inheritance and maintenance rights for women, uniform divorce grounds. [1]
• Sensitive minority rights dimension — personal laws of religious communities (Muslim, Christian, tribal customary law) affected.

Administrative/Governance

• Adopts a consultative model: committee-led drafting, public feedback portal, before Assembly introduction — replicates Uttarakhand's process. [1][2]
• Reflects policy diffusion across BJP-ruled states rather than a uniform central law — federalism dimension.

Political/Ethical

• Raises debate on whether state-wise UCCs defeat the "uniform" purpose of Article 44 (patchwork of differing state codes).
• Committee composition (retd. judge, IAS officers, advocate) signals attempt at technical/legal legitimacy over purely political drafting.

6. Recent Developments (last 12-18 months)

• Jan 2025: Uttarakhand's UCC formally notified and enforced — India's first operational state UCC. [1]
• 24–25 March 2026: Gujarat Assembly passes UCC Bill, 2026 by voice vote, becomes second state. [3]
• 16 April 2026: Chhattisgarh Cabinet approves setting up drafting committee. [1]
• 25 June 2026: Chhattisgarh issues formal order constituting the 5-member Justice Desai-led panel. [2]

7. Prelims Hooks

• Chhattisgarh is the third BJP-ruled state to initiate UCC action, after Uttarakhand and Gujarat. [1]
• Chhattisgarh's UCC committee is chaired by Justice (Retd.) Ranjana Prakash Desai, who also headed Uttarakhand's UCC panel. [1][2]
• Chhattisgarh Cabinet's UCC decision was taken at a meeting held at Mahanadi Bhawan, chaired by CM Vishnu Deo Sai. [1]
• UCC derives from Article 44, a Directive Principle under Part IV of the Constitution. [1]
• Chhattisgarh's UCC committee is a 5-member panel, formally constituted via General Administration Department order dated 25 June 2026. [2]
• Uttarakhand was the first state to implement a UCC, notified 27 January 2025 (Bill passed February 2024). [1]
• Gujarat passed the Uniform Civil Code Bill, 2026 in the Assembly on 24–25 March 2026, becoming the second state. [3]
• Gujarat's UCC excludes Scheduled Tribes and groups with constitutionally protected customary rights. [3]
• Gujarat's UCC bans bigamy and mandates registration of live-in relationships. [3]
• Chhattisgarh's UCC committee covers: marriage, divorce, inheritance, adoption, maintenance, and family disputes. [1]
• The stated aim of Chhattisgarh's UCC exercise is "simplifying laws to promote religious and gender equality." [1]
• Chhattisgarh's draft UCC process: committee draft → Cabinet approval → Assembly introduction. [1]

8. Mains Relevance

• GS-II: Indian Constitution — Directive Principles of State Policy (Article 44); Federalism; Issues relating to personal laws and minority rights; comparison of fundamental rights and DPSPs.
• GS-I: Social empowerment, gender issues (women's rights in personal law matters).
• Plausible question stems: 1. "Discuss the constitutional basis of the Uniform Civil Code under Article 44. Examine whether state-level UCC enactments serve or undermine the objective of 'uniformity' envisaged by the Constitution." (GS-II) 2. "Uniform Civil Code is increasingly being pursued at the state level rather than nationally. Critically examine the implications of this trend for cooperative federalism and minority rights." (GS-II) 3. "Personal laws in India have historically been in tension with the constitutional goal of gender justice. Discuss with reference to recent state UCC initiatives." (GS-I/II)

9. Related Topics to Study Next

• Uttarakhand UCC, 2024 — first enacted state UCC; template being replicated by other states.
• Gujarat UCC Bill, 2026 — second enacted state UCC; useful for comparing provisions (bigamy ban, live-in registration, ST exclusion).
• Article 44 & Directive Principles of State Policy — constitutional foundation and justiciability debate.
• Shah Bano case (1985) & Sarla Mudgal case (1995) — judicial pronouncements pushing for UCC.
• Concurrent List, Entry 5 (personal law) — legislative competence of states vs Parliament.
• Law Commission of India reports on UCC (2018 consultation paper, 22nd Law Commission reference) — for balanced constitutional debate.
• Special Marriage Act, 1954 — existing secular alternative to religious personal laws.
• Fifth and Sixth Schedules / tribal customary law protections — relevant to ST exclusions in state UCCs.

10. Common Errors / Trap Areas

• Confusing Article 44 (UCC) with Article 43 (living wage) or Article 39 (equal pay) — all DPSPs but distinct subject matter.
• Assuming UCC is a central/Union law — currently it is being implemented state-by-state, not nationally.
• Mixing up chronology: Uttarakhand first (2024 Bill/2025 notified), Gujarat second (March 2026), Chhattisgarh third (2026, committee stage only, not yet enacted) — Chhattisgarh has NOT passed a UCC Act, only formed a drafting committee.
• Assuming Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai is a sitting judge — she is a retired Supreme Court judge.
• Overlooking that Gujarat's and typically such UCCs exclude Scheduled Tribes, contradicting the popular assumption that UCC applies uniformly to all citizens without exception.