Amit Shah sets 2029 target for Uniform Civil Code across NDA-ruled States
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has said the Uniform Civil Code will be implemented in all 21 States governed by the BJP-led NDA before 2029.
Speaking at a press conference in Mumbai on Sunday, Shah said several States had already introduced the UCC and expressed confidence that the policy would eventually cover all NDA-ruled States.
The Uniform Civil Code seeks to establish common personal laws covering areas such as marriage, divorce, inheritance and adoption, regardless of religion.
Shah also spoke about the government’s approach to national security, citing surgical strikes, air strikes and Operation Sindoor as examples of what he described as a zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism.
On the political front, he said the country had moved away from what he characterised as corruption, caste-based politics and dynastic rule towards a model centred on government performance.
He also pointed to India’s economic expansion, noting first-quarter GDP growth of 7.8% and arguing that the country had moved from the so-called Fragile Five grouping to the world’s top five economies.
On Manipur, Shah said discussions were continuing with political leaders and other stakeholders regarding the possibility of implementing the National Register of Citizens using the 1951 baseline. He said a decision would be communicated once one was reached.
Regarding illegal immigration, he repeated the government’s position that illegal migrants would be identified and deported, while declining to reveal details of the proposed methodology.
Shah also addressed the ongoing language debate, saying that people’s mother tongues should receive priority and that State leadership would work towards resolving related concerns.
Asked about protests against the government, Shah said India was a democracy and maintained that citizens had the right to protest.
On China and sensitive strategic matters, he declined to discuss operational details publicly, saying such information could have implications for the armed forces.