Article 44 of the Directive Principles in the Constitution says:
- "State shall endeavor to provide for its citizens a uniform civil code (UCC) throughout the territory of India".
The objective of Article 44 of the Directive Principles in the Indian Constitution was to address the discrimination against vulnerable groups and harmonize diverse cultural groups across the country.
The Uniform Civil Code (UCC) calls for the formulation of one law for India, which would be applicable to all religious communities in matters such as marriage, divorce, inheritance, adoption.
The origin of the UCC dates back to colonial India when the British government submitted its report in 1835 stressing the need for uniformity in the codification of Indian law relating to crimes, evidence, and contracts, specifically recommending that personal laws of Hindus and Muslims be kept outside such codification.
Article 40 of the Constitution deals with the steps to organize village panchayats and endow them with such powers and authority as may be necessary to enable them to function as units of self-government.
Article 39A of the Constitution of India provides for free legal aid to the poor and weaker sections of the society and ensures justice for all.
Article 41 of the Constitution provides that “the State shall within the limits of its economic capacity and development, make effective provision for securing the right to work, to education and to public assistance in cases of unemployment, old age, sickness and disablement, and in other cases of undeserved want.”