The Himanta Biswa Sarma government in Assam on Monday tabled a bill on the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the state Assembly amid protests by the Opposition, which demanded wider consultation.
The Uniform Civil Code, Assam, 2026 Bill, which seeks to ban polygamy and make the registration of live-in relationships compulsory, was tabled by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Atul Bora.
Opposition parties, including the Congress, Raijor Dal and All India Trinamool Congress, opposed the move and demanded wider consultation with all stakeholders before the bill’s introduction.
In the ‘Statement of Objects and Reasons’, Chief Minister Sarma said the bill aims to consolidate and simplify laws governing marriage, divorce, succession and live-in relationships. Scheduled Tribes (Hills) and Scheduled Tribes (Plains) will remain outside the purview of the proposed UCC.
The bill sets the minimum age for marriage at 21 years for men and 18 years for women. It also proposes compulsory registration of marriages and divorces, which the government says will help secure maintenance, inheritance and other legal protections for spouses.
The bill further provides a legal framework for live-in relationships. The chief minister said that by mandating registration, the law would ensure that the rights of partners — and any children born from such unions — are formally recognised and protected.
It also seeks to modernise succession laws to ensure fair and equal distribution of property. The proposed legislation introduces uniform inheritance rules to ensure the just transfer of assets for all residents of the state.
“The Constitution, under Article 44, directs the state to strive for a Uniform Civil Code for its citizens. This Bill seeks to implement this principle within Assam to ensure a common legal framework for all residents, regardless of religion,” Sarma said.
“Importantly, it protects Assam’s cultural diversity by allowing marriages to be performed according to existing religious and customary rites,” he added.
If passed, Assam will become the third state in the country to enact a UCC law, following Uttarakhand and Gujarat.
Uttarakhand introduced its UCC law in 2024, becoming the first state in India to implement such legislation. The Gujarat Assembly passed its UCC bill in March this year.
