Union Home Minister Amit Shah has outlined a timeline for the implementation of a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in India, asserting that the policy will be introduced in 21 states prior to 2029. The UCC is a proposed legal framework intended to replace personal laws based on religious scriptures with a single set of secular laws governing marriage, divorce, inheritance, and adoption for all citizens.

During his address, Shah also discussed the broader legislative agenda regarding the country's legal infrastructure. He specifically pointed to the implementation of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita—the new criminal code that replaced the colonial-era Indian Penal Code—as a significant achievement. According to Shah, these legislative reforms have already begun to yield measurable results, with the Home Minister claiming that several states have observed a 30 percent increase in conviction rates over the past year.

While the government frames these changes as essential for modernizing the justice system and ensuring equality, the proposal for a UCC remains a subject of intense national debate. Supporters argue that a uniform code is necessary to promote national integration and gender equality. Conversely, critics and various minority groups have expressed concerns that such a code could infringe upon religious freedoms and the cultural identities of diverse communities. The announcement sets a clear political deadline for a policy that has been a long-standing pillar of the ruling party's platform, though specific details on how the code will be drafted or enforced across different state jurisdictions remain to be seen.