INDIA Trends and Developments Contributed by: Rishabh Shroff, Kunal Savani and Chirag Shah, Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas
businesses clash with modern principles of equality, while court delays deepen mistrust. Ultimately, inherit- ance disputes are rarely just legal – they are deeply personal struggles where law intersects with emotion and family identity. Women at the Forefront of Succession Planning India is experiencing an increasing shift towards involv- ing women in succession planning conversations, with historically patriarchal decision-making patterns giv- ing way, slowly but perceptibly, to a more inclusive model. Women are no longer peripheral to succession conversations – they’re leading them, bringing bal- ance, empathy, and a strong sense of stewardship. In several families, daughters now manage family trusts, run investment offices, or lead governance tables and philanthropic initiatives, changing how families think about continuity altogether. As per PwC’s India Family Business Survey 2025, women now hold 34% of senior executive roles in Indian family businesses, up from 30% in 2023. Over 52% of Indian family businesses have daughters as active participants in succession conversations, com- pared to less than 20% a decade ago. The UBS Glob- al Family Office Report 2025 states that 28% of Indian family offices are now co-led, with daughters govern- ing family investment strategy. The India Philanthropy Report 2025 showcases that philanthropy continues to act as an entry point for women into broader gov- ernance and succession roles with women leading over 38% of large family philanthropic initiatives. As per EY’s Family Enterprise Survey 2025, 46% of family trusts in India are now managed or co-managed by women with nearly 40% of next-gen leaders identi- fied by families as daughters, reflecting a cultural shift toward inclusivity. The above marks a sharp contrast from the previ- ous Indian outlook. Historically, women were often excluded from property discussions, with assets passing informally to male heirs. This has changed significantly following legal reforms such as the Hindu Succession (Amendment) Act, 2005, which granted daughters equal rights in ancestral property. Women are also increasingly taking the lead in estate planning for their own assets. Professional women and
entrepreneurs have emerged as the highest breadwin- ners in families and are now drafting wills, creating family trusts and structured estate plans. Implementation of UCC The idea of implementing a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in India has long been a subject of intense debate, touching the deepest intersections of law, religion, culture and identity. At its core, the UCC seeks to replace personal laws based on religion or commu- nity with a common set of civil laws governing matters such as marriage, divorce, inheritance, adoption and maintenance. While the concept finds its constitu- tional backing in Article 44 of the Directive Principles of State Policy, its implementation has been gradual and cautious, reflecting the complex social fabric of the country. The prospect of implementing a UCC applicable to all Indian citizens, regardless of religious affiliation, has gained momentum, with the governing party advocat- ing strongly for its nationwide adoption. In January 2025, Uttarakhand became the first state to opera- tionalise its state-specific UCC by launching an online portal and implementing the associated regulations. The demand for a UCC has gained renewed momen- tum in recent years, largely driven by concerns of gen- der justice and equality. Many personal laws, across religions, contain provisions that have been criticised for discriminating against women, particularly in mat- ters of divorce, succession and guardianship. From this perspective, a UCC is seen as a means to ensure equal rights and legal certainty for all citizens, irre- spective of their faith. Following this, 2025–2026 saw a patchwork approach emerging across various other states adopting vary- ing models rather than awaiting a national code. For instance, Gujarat has set up an expert committee to draft and consult on their version of the UCC. Assam is implementing a “Step-Ladder UCC” with various reforms being promulgated on a rolling basis such as criminalisation of polygamy followed by change in marriage registration norms. On the contrary, other states such as Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Karna- taka, Rajasthan, Punjab and West Bengal have not made their own efforts vis-à-vis the implementation
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