The Uttarakhand Government has implemented the Uniform Civil Code (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026, to introduce necessary amendments to the UCC Act, 2024, following the approval of the Governor.
As per the release from the Chief Minister’s Office, the ordinance has been promulgated by the Governor of Uttarakhand, under Article 213 of the Constitution of India and has come into force with immediate effect.
It said that through this ordinance, procedural, administrative, and penal improvements have been made to various provisions of the Code to ensure its effective, transparent, and smooth implementation.
According to the Chief Minister’s Office, along with promoting women’s empowerment, protecting children’s rights, and ensuring equality in civil rights, one of the UCC’s most significant contributions has been simplifying procedures.
Speaking on the issue, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that by implementing the Uniform Civil Code, Uttarakhand has shown the way for other states. He added that the transparency and simplicity with which the provisions of the UCC have been implemented over the past year have strengthened public trust in the process.
According to the release, before the implementation of the UCC, marriages were registered under the Uttarakhand Compulsory Registration of Marriages Act, 2010. The entire process was offline, requiring both spouses and two witnesses to be physically present at the Sub-Registrar’s office.
However, under the UCC, nearly 100 per cent of marriage registrations are now being completed online. Couples and witnesses can apply from anywhere by uploading their records and recording video statements. As a result, until January 19, a total of 4,74,447 marriage registrations had been completed in less than a year since the UCC came into force.
A historic step towards equality, security, and transparency in Uttarakhand, the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) today completes one year since its implementation. Enforced on January 27, 2025, the UCC has given a new direction to the state’s social and legal framework. Simplifying and digitising processes related to marriage, divorce, and live-in relationships, it has made systems far more accessible for ordinary citizens.
On the completion of one year, “UCC Day” is being observed across the state today. Meanwhile, the state government has also implemented the Uniform Civil Code (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026, for necessary reforms, which has come into force with immediate effect following the Governor’s approval. Akashvani’s correspondent reports that the Uttarakhand government has implemented the Uniform Civil Code (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026, with the objective of bringing procedural, administrative, and penal reforms to the Uniform Civil Code.
Through these amendments, the provisions of the Code have been made clearer and practical, ensuring its effective and transparent implementation. The amendments align criminal procedures and penal provisions with the new Indian legal codes, while also strengthening registration-related powers and the appellate mechanism.
During the one-year period of the UCC, its most significant impact has been seen in the marriage registration process. Through the online system, husbands and wives can now register their marriages from anywhere. In the past year, since the implementation of the UCC, more than five lakh marriage registrations have been completed. Earlier, this process was entirely offline and required mandatory presence at the sub-registrar’s office. Under the new system, marriage registration certificates are now being issued within an average of five days.
Meanwhile, on the occasion of the completion of one year of the Uniform Civil Code, awareness programs and public interaction events are being organised today at both urban and rural levels across all districts of the state under “UCC Day.
