To make the general position concrete, here is an illustrative, hypothetical situation (not a real case) that raises this question.
The illustrative scenario
Someone in Chennai is trying to understand uniform civil code. Which states have brought a Uniform Civil Code into force, and which have only passed bills awaiting notification.
The question
A reader in this situation might ask:
Which Indian states currently have a Uniform Civil Code in force?
How the general rule applies
Uttarakhand's Uniform Civil Code has been in force since 27 Jan 2025, including a requirement to register live-in relationships; this requirement is being challenged in the High Court.
As a general rule, gujarat (24 Mar 2026), Assam (27 May 2026), and Madhya Pradesh (Jul 2026) have passed their own UCC bills, but as of a September 2026 report, these were still awaiting presidential assent or notification and were not yet in force.
As of this research, Uttarakhand is the only state with a Uniform Civil Code actually in force (since 27 January 2025). Gujarat, Assam, and Madhya Pradesh have passed UCC bills but these were awaiting notification.
What often gets missed in situations like this
- Treating a UCC bill passed by a state legislature as already in force — Gujarat, Assam, and Madhya Pradesh's bills were still awaiting notification as of this research.
- Assuming Uttarakhand's UCC rules on live-in relationship registration apply outside the state — they do not.
Where this scenario is set (Chennai)
- The High Court with jurisdiction is the Madras High Court.
- Matters at the district level are generally handled at the Chennai City Civil Court or Small Causes Court.
As noted above, this scenario is a constructed illustration used to explain the general rule — it does not describe a real client, case, or outcome.
For the general rules, see Uniform Civil Code: Where It Currently Stands by State and Can the 6-Month Cooling-Off Period for Divorce Be Waived?.
Where this applies to a live matter, it is usually worth discussing it in a consultation before acting.
This page is general information about the law in India and is not legal advice. The position can vary with the facts, so it is worth getting advice on your specific situation.
This page provides general information about the law in India and is not legal advice. For advice on your specific situation, please consult a qualified advocate.