National
Assam Assembly Presented with Uniform Civil Code Legislation
The Assam government on Monday introduced the Uniform Civil Code Assam Bill 2026 in the state assembly, proposing a ban on polygamy and making registration of live-in relationships mandatory. The legislation will not apply to Scheduled Tribes residing in the state.
The government of Assam on Monday introduced the Uniform Civil Code Assam Bill 2026 in the state assembly, marking a significant legislative move aimed at reforming personal laws related to marriage and family matters.
The Bill proposes a ban on polygamy and seeks to make registration of live-in relationships compulsory. It also makes marriage and divorce registration mandatory to help safeguard legal rights relating to maintenance, inheritance and other protections for spouses.
Under the proposed law, the minimum marriageable age has been fixed at 21 years for men and 18 years for women. The Bill, however, specifically states that it will not apply to Scheduled Tribes residing in Assam.
Atul Bora introduced the Bill in the assembly on behalf of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
With the move, Assam has become the first state in Northeast India and the third BJP-ruled state in the country to introduce Uniform Civil Code legislation. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party had promised to implement the UCC in Assam in its manifesto ahead of the 2026 assembly elections.
The Assam cabinet had approved the legislation during its first meeting on May 13.
The Uniform Civil Code remains a politically and socially significant issue in India, aimed at creating a common set of personal laws governing matters such as marriage, divorce, inheritance and adoption across communities, while also generating debate over cultural and religious autonomy.