Uttarakhand is set to enforce its Uniform Civil Code (UCC), making it the second state after Goa to establish a consistent legal framework for marriage, divorce, property, inheritance, and adoption for all citizens. The Code comes into effect almost a year after being passed in the state assembly, fulfilling one of the BJP's key election promises in the 2022 state elections.

A central feature of the UCC is the mandatory registration of live-in relationships, with severe penalties for non-compliance, including jail terms and fines. The law also requires parental consent for live-in relationships involving individuals under 21. Marriage registrations will be mandatory, with a uniform minimum marriage age of 21 for men and 18 for women, designed to allow individuals to complete their education before marriage.

Additionally, the UCC bans polygamy, child marriage, triple talaq, and enforces a uniform divorce process. The law ensures gender-neutral inheritance rights, recognizing children from live-in relationships as legitimate heirs. However, the Code will not apply to Scheduled Tribes.

With this new law, Uttarakhand aims to ensure equality across communities, including the abolition of practices like nikah halala and iddat, which are followed in some Muslim communities, further promoting gender equality.