95% women, 92% men back UCC in Madhya Pradesh, say govt records

Among those who submitted suggestions, 71% of Muslim women supported the UCC, compared with 38% of Muslim men, according to government statistics.

Official figures show women backed the Uniform Civil Code at a higher rate than men despite submitting fewer suggestions during the state's public consultation exercise. Photo | Express Illustrations

BHOPAL: A higher percentage of women than men want the introduction of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh. Over 9.5 lakh suggestions about the UCC have been received by the government in the individual category, out of which around 5.50 lakh or 58% are from men, while 4 lakh suggestions are from women. Transgenders a count for around 100 suggestions.

While men outnumbered women when it came to making suggestions about the UCC, the women were ahead of men when it came to supporting the introduction of the UCC.

According to statistics available with this newspaper, while 92% of men (5.1 lakh of the 5.5 lakh who made the suggestions) have come out in the UCC’s support, 95%, or 3.8 lakh, of women, who gave suggestions, wanted its implementation.

A further break-up of men on religious lines revealed that of the 5.20 lakh Hindu men, 95% of 4.90 lakh supported the UCC, while out of the 3.70 lakh Hindu women, 97%, or 3.60 lakh, backed the move to have the UCC in the state. However, the most significant and sharp contrast in numbers supporting the UCC was visible in the Muslim community.

Though only 44,000 Muslims came out with suggestions on the sensitive issue to the government, 71%, or 10,500, women out of the 15,000 women who made the suggestions were in the UCC’s support. On the contrary, out of the 29,000 Muslim men who sent their suggestions, merely 38%, or around just around 11,000, were actually supportive of the UCC being implemented in the state.

A total of 2,000 institutional suggestions too were received. According to sources associated with the high-level committee constituted by the state in April 2026 to study the UCC of U’khand, Gujarat and Assam and prepare the UCC draft for MP, all suggestions are being examined.

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The Suvendu Adhikari-led BJP government in West Bengal is set to introduce the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill in the Assembly on Monday during the ongoing Budget session, advancing a key electoral promise well ahead of its stated six-month implementation timeline.