Gujarat Marriage Rules: The Gujarat government has set out plans to revise the rules framed under the Gujarat Registration of Marriages Act, stating that the amendments are designed to address weaknesses in the current system.
Responding to demands from various community groups, the state administration has proposed changes that formally incorporate the "family unit" into the legal framework governing marriage registration.
Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi underlined the necessity of introducing fresh norms, claiming that "innocent girls are being trapped" and that such practices were spreading "like termites" in society. He said numerous individuals and social organisations had pressed the government to amend the rules in order to curb the misuse of procedural loopholes.
Gujarat Marriage Rules: Parents Will Be Informed
A key feature of the proposal is the introduction of a mandatory "Declaration" by the bride and groom. Under the revised framework, couples will be required to place on record whether their parents are aware of the marriage.
According to the draft rules, applications for marriage registration must be submitted to the Assistant Registrar along with a declaration stating whether the bride and groom have informed their parents of their decision.
In addition, the couple will be required to provide the names, addresses, Aadhaar numbers and contact details of their parents in the application.
The parents of the bride and groom will be informed within ten working days once the Assistant Registrar is satisfied that the application meets the stipulated requirements.
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From the Aadhaar cards of the parents to the "Kankotri" (wedding invitation), the required documentation is set to become more comprehensive than ever.
Gujarat Marriage Rules: 30-Day Rule To Get Marriage Certificate
The Assistant Registrar will forward the application to the Registrar of the relevant district or taluka. The marriage will be registered 30 days after the Registrar is satisfied that the requirements specified in the sub-rules have been fulfilled.
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The proposed rules mandate a 30-day period between the submission of the application and the final issuance of the certificate. During this time, all data including wedding photographs and witness details — will be uploaded to a centralised State Government online portal. This change is intended to ensure that every marriage is digitally recorded, creating a transparent, state-wide audit trail.
Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi said, "In future, there will be a portal wherein when a couple applies for marriage registration, immediately through WhatsApp and message their parents will be notified as well. This will save the sentiments of parents. And the rights of everyone."
Gandhinagar | Gujarat Deputy CM Harsh Sanghavi says," Under the guidance of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, the Gujarat Government is committed to protecting Sanatan traditions and India’s marriage system. In certain villages of Panchmahal, where there is not even a single Muslim… pic.twitter.com/Vi2HhXsBTd
— ANI (@ANI) February 20, 2026
He added that several individuals and social organisations had called on the government to amend the marriage registration rules to prevent the exploitation of procedural gaps.
Referring to what he described as "love jihad", Sanghavi characterised it as a "cultural invasion" and asserted that the BJP government could no longer ignore the issue. He said the amendments are intended to strengthen safeguards within the registration process.
The opposition also stated that innocent girls were being lured by anti-social elements who exploited loopholes in the existing system to solemnise and register marriages.