New Delhi/IBNS: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said the existing "communal" and "divisive" civil code must be replaced by a "secular civil code" speaking in favour of the Uniform Civil Code in his Independence Day speech.

In his address on the country's 78th Independence Day, the Prime Minister said, "In our country, the Supreme Court has repeatedly discussed UCC and has given orders several times.

"A large section of people in our country believe that the existing civil code is communal and divisive. Now the demand of the country is that there should be a secular civil code in the country."

UCC refers to a common set of laws that apply to all Indian citizens and is not based on religion in dealing with marriage, divorce, inheritance, and adoption, among other personal matters.

The UCC has remained a key promise in the Lok Sabha poll manifesto of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party.

Several BJP-ruled states have already geared up for the implementation of UCC.

In February this year, Uttarakhand became the first state to pass the UCC, which has been opposed by several opposition parties.