Uttarakhand became the first state to have a UCC in March 2024. With this, experts are now anticipating when India will get a UCC. But a question as to the implications of UCC on the personal laws of Hindu and Muslim arises.

Article 44 contained in part IV of the Constitution says that the state “shall endeavour to secure for the citizens a uniform civil code throughout the territory of India”.

Looking at the codified personal laws of various communities in India — all Hindus are not governed by a homogenous personal law even after the enactment of the Hindu Code Bill, neither are Muslims and Christians under their personal laws. Originally designed to modernize and unify various aspects of Hindu personal laws such as marriage, succession, guardianship, adoption, and maintenance, the bill encountered strong resistance from traditionalist groups. As a result, it underwent multiple amendments and ultimately split into four separate acts — the Hindu Marriage Act, the Hindu Succession Act, the Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act, and the Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act — during the 1950s.

Likewise, uniformity in the application of Muslim personal law remains elusive, exemplified by the Shariat Act of 1937. Notably, this act does not extend to Jammu and Kashmir, where Muslims adhere to customary laws divergent from mainstream Muslim personal law in India. Furthermore, applicability varies among different Muslim sects. Additionally, many tribal communities across India, irrespective of religious affiliation, adhere to their own customary laws.

So, it is difficult to implement the UCC in a diverse country like India. The differences between the personal laws of Hindu and Muslim, difference between the customary laws of varied communities among each religion and the potential unrest it might cause, makes the drafting of UCC challenging. The legislature and the law commission will have to scrutinize the discrimination, stereotypes and the customary laws of different sects before starting with the draft of UCC.

State Judicial Service

I’m preparing for state level judiciary exams. These exams offer prestigious positions in the judiciary to the successful candidates. Every state conducts its own judiciary exam with slight variations in the syllabus.

It comprises of a three step selection process:

1. Pre-liminary:- It consists of mcq based questions and tests the candidates knowledge about the basics of the law.
2. Mains:- It consists of subjective paper which requires the candidates to have an indepth knowledge of the concept and case laws.
3. Interview:- The last stage is the interview. Candidates are marked on their confidence, personality, and knowledge.

State Judicial Service

I’m preparing for state level judiciary exams. These exams offer prestigious positions in the judiciary to the successful candidates. Every state conducts its own judiciary exam with slight variations in the syllabus.

It comprises of a three step selection process:

1. Pre-liminary:- It consists of mcq based questions and tests the candidates knowledge about the basics of the law.
2. Mains:- It consists of subjective paper which requires the candidates to have an indepth knowledge of the concept and case laws.
3. Interview:- The last stage is the interview. Candidates are marked on their confidence, personality, and knowledge.

To address the issue of harmful preservatives in food products in the Indian market, several steps could be taken:

1. Stringent Regulation and Enforcement: Strengthen regulations by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to limit the types and amounts of preservatives allowed in food products. Ensure strict enforcement of these regulations through regular inspections and penalties for non-compliance.
2. Promote Natural Preservatives: Encourage the use of natural preservatives such as salt, sugar, vinegar, and certain spices like cloves and cinnamon, which have been traditionally used and are generally safer than synthetic alternatives.
3. Consumer Awareness: Educate consumers about the risks associated with consuming products containing harmful preservatives. Provide information on how to identify these preservatives on food labels and encourage informed choices.
4. Support for Research and Development: Invest in research and development of safer preservative technologies that are effective yet less harmful to health. Support innovation in food preservation methods that reduce the need for synthetic additives.
5. Encourage Industry Initiatives: Work with food manufacturers to voluntarily reduce the use of harmful preservatives and adopt safer alternatives. Provide incentives or recognition for companies that adhere to higher safety standards.
6. Monitoring Import Regulations: Monitor imported food products to ensure they comply with Indian regulations on preservatives. Strengthen border controls to prevent the entry of products that do not meet safety standards.
7. Public Health Campaigns: Launch public health campaigns to raise awareness about the long-term health effects of consuming foods with excessive preservatives. Empower consumers to demand safer products.
8. Capacity Building and Training: Provide training and capacity building programs for food producers, handlers, and regulators on safe food preservation practices and compliance with regulations.
9. Collaboration with International Bodies: Collaborate with international food safety organizations to learn from global best practices and harmonize standards to ensure the safety of imported and exported food products.

By implementing these measures comprehensively and continuously, the prevalence of harmful preservatives in the Indian food market can be significantly reduced, thereby safeguarding public health and promoting consumer trust in food safety