Uttarakhand's UCC Marks One Year with Massive Digital Shift
Uttarakhand has completed one full year of implementing the Uniform Civil Code. The state launched this landmark law on January 27, 2025. Officials now reveal impressive numbers from its first year of operation.
Marriage Registrations Skyrocket Under New System
From the implementation date until January 19 this year, authorities registered a staggering 4.7 lakh marriages across Uttarakhand. This represents a massive increase compared to previous years.
Shailesh Bagauli, the Home Secretary, provided detailed figures to TOI. He stated that the average daily marriage registrations now reach around 1,400. This number stood at just 67 per day under the old system.
The entire marriage registration process now operates completely online. Officials confirm that 100% of UCC marriage registrations happen through digital channels. This marks a radical departure from the previous method.
Online Processes Transform Legal Formalities
The UCC introduced several other online services beyond marriage registration. During this period, 316 couples obtained divorce certificates through the online portal. Another 68 individuals registered their live-in relationships digitally.
Two people also used the online system to formally end their live-in arrangements. The digital framework clearly handles various personal status changes efficiently.
Additional services saw strong uptake too. Exactly 82,545 couples chose to get official acknowledgement for their marriage certificates. Meanwhile, 3,293 people registered their wills through the new system.
From Physical Queues to Digital Ease
Before the UCC implementation, Uttarakhand followed the Compulsory Registration of Marriages Act, 2010. That old process required physical presence at sub-registrar offices. Couples had to appear on scheduled dates with two witnesses.
The previous system had no fixed timeline for issuing certificates. Applicants often faced uncertain waiting periods after submitting their documents.
The UCC changed everything. Although the law allows 15 days for issuing marriage certificates, the actual average is just five days. This efficiency comes from the streamlined online procedures.
Leadership Confident in UCC's Success
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami spoke about the UCC completing its first year. He expressed strong confidence in the system's transparency and simplicity.
"We are confident that other states would follow our initiative," Dhami stated. He emphasized that the past year's implementation has boosted public confidence in the process.
Uttarakhand holds the distinction of being the first post-independence state to implement the Uniform Civil Code. Its digital-first approach now serves as a potential model for other regions considering similar reforms.
