Why Amit Shah’s 2029 UCC push is going through states, not Parliament - The Indian Express

**Why Amit Shah’s 2029 Uniform Civil Code Push Is Going Through States, Not Parliament**

New Delhi – Union Home Minister Amit Shah has announced that the government’s 2029 agenda to introduce a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) will be pursued primarily through state legislatures rather than a direct parliamentary bill. Officials from the Ministry of Law and Justice say the strategy is meant to “navigate the complex federal architecture of India and build consensus at the grassroots level before seeking a national mandate.” By engaging state governments first, the centre hopes to address region‑specific concerns—such as personal law nuances in the Northeast, the South, and the Muslim‑majority districts of the North—while sidestepping the protracted parliamentary debates that have historically stalled UCC proposals.

The approach has drawn mixed reactions from the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) partners. The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Shiv Sena have publicly backed Shah’s call, arguing that a unified civil law would promote national integration and gender equity. In contrast, the Janata Dal (United) of Bihar has cautioned against a one‑size‑fits‑all model, citing the state’s distinct cultural and legal traditions. The rift became evident during a recent meeting in Patna, where JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar warned that imposing the UCC without broad-based consultation could exacerbate communal tensions and alienate regional allies. Meanwhile, the National Conference (NC) of Jammu and Kashmir reiterated its opposition, labeling the UCC as an “intrusion into the constitutional autonomy” granted to the state under the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act.

Political analysts see the state‑centric route as a calculated move to keep the NDA coalition intact while testing the waters for a future national law. By allowing individual states to pilot provisions—such as uniform marriage registration, inheritance rights, and divorce procedures—the centre can gather data on implementation challenges and public sentiment. However, critics argue that this fragmented rollout may lead to a patchwork of civil codes, undermining the very uniformity the policy seeks to achieve. As the 2029 deadline approaches, the debate over the UCC is likely to intensify, with opposition parties and civil‑society groups preparing legal challenges and grassroots campaigns to shape the final outcome.