Dehradun, Jan. 13 -- The state has witnessed a sharp surge in marriage registrations following the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), withthe daily average rising nearly 24 times compared to the earlier law, officials said on Monday. Under the leadership of chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, Uttarakhand became the first state in the country to enforce the UCC, they said. Chief minister Dhamisaid the UCC was not targeted against any community. "Implementing the Uniform Civil Code in Uttarakhand is a historic and courageous decision. Its purpose is to ensure equal rights, equal opportunities and equal respect for all citizens. The unprecedented rise in marriage registrations reflects public acceptance of the law as a social reform," he said, expressing confidence that other states would follow Uttarakhand's example. Officials said the law has significantly increased public awareness about mandatory marriage registration. According to data, between January 27, 2025, and July 2025, more than 300,000 marriages were registered in the state. In comparison, under the previous act introduced in 2010, a total of 330,064 marriages were registered over nearly 15 years, up to January 26, 2025. On a daily average, only 67 marriages were registered under the old system, while after the UCC came into force, registrations have jumped to around 1,634 per day, officials said. The UCC aims to bring uniformity in laws governing marriage, divorce, inheritance and live-in relationships across religions. It fixes a uniform marriageable age for men and womenand introduces standardised and stricter provisions related to divorce and other civil matters. The government has said the law promotes social justice, gender equality and equal rights, particularly for women, and addresses social practices such as polygamy. The chief minister had promised to implement the UCCduring the 2022 assembly elections and moved swiftly after assuming office, approving the decision in his first cabinet meeting. After completing legal formalities and extensive public consultations, the UCC came into force in the state on January 27, 2025....