Garhwal Post Bureau
DEHRADUN, 26 Jul: The enforcement of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in Uttarakhand, which came into effect on January 27 this year, has led to a dramatic rise in the number of marriage registrations across the state. With the new legislation rendering registration compulsory, the average number of daily registrations has soared to 1,634, marking a stark contrast to the previous norm under the Uttarakhand Marriage Registration Act of 2010, where daily figures languished at just 67.
Between the inception of the 2010 Act and its eventual repeal on January 26, 2025, only 3,30,064 marriages were registered in total, reflecting the limited public engagement with the voluntary system previously in place. In comparison, since the commencement of the UCC, a staggering 3,01,526 marriages have already been recorded, underscoring the law’s widespread acceptance and the effectiveness of its streamlined procedural framework.
This surge can be attributed to the simplified registration process and the perceived transparency afforded by the UCC, which many couples now see as a vital step in formalising their marital status. In a bid to accommodate those who may have missed the initial window, the government has extended the registration deadline from six months to one year, as confirmed by an official notification issued by the Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Department. The revised timeline aims to assist individuals who, due to varying circumstances, were unable to comply with the initial mandate.
Commenting on this development, Chief Minister Pushkar Dhami has observed that the increasing number of UCC-based registrations reflects not only legal compliance but also an evolving societal ethos. He noted that each registration strengthens the foundational values of equity and transparency, while serving as a crucial measure to uphold the rights and dignity of women. The UCC‘s growing traction is being interpreted as a positive shift towards a more inclusive and accountable civil framework.
