UP Government Plans Landmark Reform: Married Daughters to Get Equal Rights in Agricultural Land

Lucknow, Sep 8, 2025 – In a move that could redefine property rights for women in rural India, the Uttar Pradesh government is preparing to amend its land inheritance laws to give married daughters equal rights in agricultural land.

Currently, under the UP Revenue Code, 2006 (Section 108[2]), when a male farmer dies, his land is transferred to his wife, sons, and unmarried daughters. Married daughters are excluded from this inheritance, unless no other legal heir is available. This long-standing provision has been criticized as discriminatory and inconsistent with broader inheritance rights granted under the Hindu Succession (Amendment) Act, 2005, which gave daughters equal rights in a father’s property.

The Proposed Change

According to official sources, the UP Revenue Board has recommended removing the word “unmarried” from the inheritance clause. If this proposal becomes law, married daughters will have the same rights as sons and unmarried daughters in inheriting agricultural land.

This change will not only end decades of gender-based disparity but also align Uttar Pradesh with states such as Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, which have already introduced similar reforms. If cleared, UP will become the third state in India to legally recognize married daughters as equal heirs to agricultural property.

Why Agricultural Land Rights Matter

For rural households, land ownership is far more than just a financial asset. It represents livelihood, food security, and social status. Legal experts emphasize that excluding married daughters from agricultural inheritance has historically weakened their economic independence and reinforced patriarchal traditions.

Granting equal land rights, they argue, will strengthen gender equality in rural India, ensuring that daughters, irrespective of marital status, are recognized as rightful heirs. This move could also improve women’s participation in farming activities, give them greater access to institutional credit, and enhance their bargaining power within families and communities.

A Step Toward Gender Equality

Women’s rights activists have welcomed the proposal, calling it a historic step towards justice for rural women. For decades, while daughters had equal claim to urban property and ancestral assets, agricultural land remained a gray area. In most states, laws either excluded married daughters or imposed restrictive conditions on their rights.

By addressing this gap, Uttar Pradesh is signaling a more progressive approach to property rights. Experts believe that this reform will not only boost women’s economic security but also set a precedent for other states that continue to follow outdated norms.

Implementation and Next Steps

The proposal is now awaiting cabinet approval and, subsequently, passage in the state assembly. Once enacted, married daughters will be officially recognized as equal stakeholders in their family’s agricultural land.

Legal analysts suggest that the government may also need to introduce clear guidelines for land partition and registration to prevent disputes. Awareness campaigns will be equally important to ensure that families in rural areas understand and comply with the new law.

Broader Impact Across India

The debate over agricultural land rights for women is not new. While the 2005 Hindu Succession Amendment was a breakthrough for women’s property rights, agricultural land was left under state jurisdiction, resulting in inconsistent rules across India.

• In some states, married daughters were completely excluded.

• In others, they were given conditional rights.

• Only a few states, like Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, extended full equality.

If Uttar Pradesh, the country’s most populous state, implements this reform, it could influence other states to revisit their laws. The ripple effect may eventually lead to a uniform national framework on agricultural inheritance.

Key Takeaways

• Current rule in UP: Married daughters do not inherit agricultural land unless no other heir exists.

• Proposed change: Removal of the term “unmarried,” giving married daughters equal inheritance rights.

• National context: Only Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh have implemented similar reforms so far.

• Impact: Greater gender equality, improved rural women’s economic security, and stronger recognition of daughters as rightful heirs.

Conclusion

If approved, this reform will mark a historic turning point in women’s land rights in Uttar Pradesh. Married daughters will finally stand on equal legal footing with sons and unmarried daughters in agricultural inheritance. More importantly, it will send a powerful message across India: a daughter, married or not, remains an equal heir to her family’s land and legacy.