West Bengal government forms committee to review draft UCC

1. At a Glance

• West Bengal has constituted a 9-member high-level committee headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai to review its Draft Uniform Civil Code (UCC), West Bengal, 2026 Bill. [1][2]
• Marks a politically significant moment: a non-BJP-ruled state engaging with UCC, contrasted against BJP-ruled Uttarakhand's 2024 UCC. [1][3]
• Tests the federal/state dimension of Article 44 (a Union List/Concurrent subject overlap) and personal-law reform — high-value for GS-II Polity and Governance. [4]

2. Why in the News

• State notification dated July 10, 2026 constituted the committee "in view of wide ramifications and voluminous nature of the subject domain of the proposed legislation." [2]
• Committee tasked with examining the draft Bill and recommending changes before Assembly introduction. [1]
• Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari stated the committee would begin work and submit findings soon; government plans to table the finalised Bill in the Assembly session scheduled for August 2026. [1][2]

3. Background & Evolution

• Article 44 (Directive Principle of State Policy, Part IV): "The State shall endeavour to secure for the citizens a uniform civil code throughout the territory of India" — non-justiciable per Article 37. [4]
• Uttarakhand became the first Indian state to enact a UCC — Bill passed by Legislative Assembly in February 2024 under CM Pushkar Singh Dhami; implemented from January 27, 2025. [3]
• Uttarakhand's UCC covers marriage, divorce, adoption, inheritance, and maintenance uniformly regardless of religion, caste, gender. [3]
• West Bengal's move follows this precedent but frames its own Draft Bill titled "The Uniform Civil Code, West Bengal, 2026" covering marriage, divorce, intestate succession, and testamentary succession. [2]

4. Core Static Facts

Notable committee members (per reporting): Tathagata Roy (former Meghalaya Governor), Dushyant Nariala, Shatrughna Singh (retd. IAS), Sanghamitra Ghosh (Principal Secretary, Home & Hill Affairs), Dr Ratna Bhattacharya, Gopalchandra Misra (former VC, Gour Banga University), Osman Gani Mallick (advocate), Nirmalya Bhattacharyya. [1]

5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis

• Legal / Constitutional: Tests interplay between Article 44 (DPSP) and Article 25 (freedom of religion); question of whether states can legislate personal law under Concurrent List entries (Entry 5 — marriage, divorce, adoption, etc.). [4]
• Social: Directly affects personal law matters — marriage, divorce, succession — across religious communities; UCC debates historically center on gender justice vs. religious/minority rights. [2]
• Governance / Administrative: Use of an expert committee (retired judiciary + bureaucracy + academia) before legislative tabling reflects a consultative drafting model, similar to Uttarakhand's Justice Ranjana Desai-headed committee (she also chaired Uttarakhand's UCC drafting committee). [1][3]
• Political / Federal: Significant as West Bengal is TMC-governed; broadens UCC beyond BJP-ruled states, altering the political framing of UCC as a saffron-only agenda. [1]
• Historical: Continues the post-2024 wave following Uttarakhand's precedent-setting UCC Act. [3]

6. Recent Developments (last 12-18 months)

• Feb 2024: Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly passes UCC Bill. [3]
• Jan 27, 2025: Uttarakhand UCC comes into force — first state-level UCC in independent India. [3]
• July 10, 2026: West Bengal notification constitutes 9-member committee under Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai to review its Draft UCC Bill, 2026. [2]
• Planned August 2026: West Bengal Assembly session targeted for tabling the finalised Bill. [1]

7. Prelims Hooks

• Article 44 lies in Part IV (Directive Principles of State Policy) of the Constitution. [4]
• DPSPs are non-justiciable under Article 37. [4]
• Uttarakhand is the first Indian state to enact a Uniform Civil Code (2024 Act, in force Jan 27, 2025). [3]
• West Bengal's Draft Bill is titled "The Uniform Civil Code, West Bengal, 2026." [2]
• WB UCC committee is headed by Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai, a former Supreme Court judge. [1]
• The WB committee has 9 members, including a former Meghalaya Governor (Tathagata Roy). [1]
• WB notification constituting the committee is dated July 10, 2026. [2]
• WB Draft UCC covers marriage, divorce, intestate succession, and testamentary succession (not criminal law). [2]
• CM of West Bengal at the time of this news is Suvendu Adhikari. [1]
• WB government intends to table the Bill in the August 2026 Assembly session. [1]
• Uttarakhand's UCC additionally covers adoption and maintenance, beyond WB's stated scope. [3]

8. Mains Relevance

• GS-II: Polity & Governance — "Directive Principles of State Policy," "Issues relating to development and implementation of policies," federalism and personal law reform.
• GS-I (secondary): Social empowerment, communalism, and secularism aspects of personal law uniformity.
• Possible question stems: 1. Discuss the constitutional basis and challenges in implementing a Uniform Civil Code in India, with reference to recent state-level initiatives. (GS-II) 2. Does UCC implementation by individual states undermine or advance the constitutional vision under Article 44? Critically examine with reference to Uttarakhand and West Bengal. (GS-II) 3. Examine the tension between Directive Principles (Article 44) and Fundamental Rights (Article 25-26) in the context of a Uniform Civil Code. (GS-II)

9. Related Topics to Study Next

• Uttarakhand UCC Act, 2024 — the only enacted state UCC; useful comparator on scope and implementation challenges.
• Article 44 and DPSPs — constitutional foundation and justiciability debate.
• Article 25-26 (Freedom of Religion) — the counter-argument space in UCC debates.
• Law Commission of India reports on UCC (21st and 22nd Law Commissions) — official reasoning on feasibility.
• Shah Bano case / Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorce) Act, 1986 — historical flashpoint on personal law reform.
• Goa Civil Code — India's only existing uniform civil code (colonial-era, pre-Constitution).
• Concurrent List Entry 5 (Constitution, Seventh Schedule) — legislative competence basis for state-level personal law bills.
• Triple Talaq (Muslim Women Act, 2019) — related personal-law reform precedent at the Union level.

10. Common Errors / Trap Areas

• Do not confuse Uttarakhand (2024, in force 2025) as still the only state — West Bengal is now in the committee-review stage, not yet enacted.
• Do not assume WB's Bill is enacted law — as of this news, it is only a draft under committee review, not passed by the Assembly.
• Do not conflate Article 44 (DPSP, non-justiciable) with a Fundamental Right — UCC cannot be judicially enforced directly.
• Do not assume UCC is a Union-only subject — personal law areas fall under the Concurrent List, permitting state-level legislation.
• Do not mix up committee chairs — Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai heads WB's committee; confirm distinctly from any Uttarakhand-specific committee personnel if citing both.