As Uttarakhand completes one year of implementing the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) on January 27, the milestone marks a significant chapter in the state’s governance under Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami.
According to an official release from the state government, the impact is increasingly visible in the simplification of civil procedures, particularly marriage registration.
Along with promoting gender justice, protection of children’s rights and equality in civil laws, the UCC has significantly streamlined administrative processes.
As per the release, within less than a year of the UCC coming into force, as many as 4,74,447 marriages have been registered in the state. The introduction of an online system has made marriage registration easier and more accessible, allowing couples to complete the process from anywhere without physically visiting government offices.
Earlier, couples were required to be present at the sub-registrar’s office on a fixed date along with two witnesses to register their marriage. However, under the UCC, marriage registration is now being conducted almost entirely through online platforms.
Shift from Offline to Digital Registration
Before the implementation of the UCC, marriages in Uttarakhand were registered under the Uttarakhand Compulsory Registration of Marriages Act, 2010.
The process was entirely offline, mandating the physical presence of both spouses and two witnesses at the sub-registrar’s office.
Under the UCC, nearly 100 per cent of marriage registrations are now taking place online. Couples and witnesses can submit documents, upload records and record video statements remotely while applying for registration.
As a result, by the afternoon of Monday, January 19, 2026, a total of 4,74,447 marriage registrations had been completed.
The shift has led to a sharp rise in registrations, with the average number now reaching nearly 1,400 registrations per day, compared to an average of just 67 per day under the previous law.
The digital framework under the UCC has also enabled other civil services to be accessed online. During this period, 316 people obtained certificates for marriage dissolution, 68 registered live-in relationships, and two people secured certificates for the termination of live-in relationships, all through the online system.
While the UCC prescribes a time limit of 15 days for issuing a marriage registration certificate after an application is submitted, applicants are receiving certificates in an average of five days. Under the earlier law, not only was physical presence mandatory, but there was also no fixed timeline for the completion of registration.
Uttarakhand Sets Model for other States
Uttarakhand has emerged as the first state to implement the Uniform Civil Code, providing a roadmap for others to follow. The transparent and simplified implementation of the UCC over the past year has strengthened public trust in the system. As a result, a growing number of citizens are opting to register under the UCC.
The Uttarakhand Uniform Civil Code has, in many ways, emerged as a model law, demonstrating how legal reforms can combine transparency, efficiency and accessibility while safeguarding citizens’ rights.
Becoming the first state in the country to operationalise the UCC, the Dhami government rolled out the reform with a focus on equality before law, protection of women and children’s rights, and simplification of civil processes.
Over the past year, the emphasis on transparency, digital systems and time-bound services—particularly in areas such as marriage registration—has strengthened public trust and participation.
The completion of one year of the UCC is being viewed within the state as both a policy achievement and a model of structured implementation, reflecting the government’s intent to combine legal reform with administrative efficiency.
The Uniform Civil Code (UCC) brings all citizens under a common set of civil laws, replacing religion-based personal laws in matters such as marriage, divorce, maintenance, inheritance, guardianship, adoption and live-in relationships. Its objective is to ensure equality before law, protect the rights of women and children, and simplify legal procedures through a uniform and transparent framework, while leaving religious practices and beliefs untouched.
