Assam Assembly passes Uniform Civil Code Bill; bans polygamy, registration of marriages and live-in must
Guwahati, May 27
Assam Assembly on Wednesday passed a Uniform Civil Code Bill after a marathon debate between the BJP-led NDA and the opposition parties. The bill seeks to establish a single civil legal framework to govern marriage, divorce, succession and live-in relationships irrespective of religion.
With this, Assam has become the first state in the Northeast and the third Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-ruled state in the country to pass such legislation, after Uttarakhand and Gujarat. Though Goa also has common civil law since the Portuguese colonial rule.
The bill prohibits polygamy, while setting a standardised legal age of 21 years for grooms and 18 years for brides. It proposes mandatory registration of marriages and live-in relationships, while setting defined timelines and penalties for non-compliance.
"The legislation safeguards cultural diversity by granting full freedom of ritual, allowing marriages to be solemnised through any existing religious ceremony or custom, including Vedic Bibah, Ahom Chaklong, Saptapadi, Ashirvad, Nikah, Holy Union, Anand Karaj," an official statement read.
The UCC Bill was introduced on May 25 in the state assembly, proposing a ban on polygamy and making registration of live-in relationships compulsory. State Cabinet Minister Atul Bora introduced the Uniform Civil Code Assam Bill 2026 in the Assembly on behalf of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
The BJP had promised to bring in the UCC in Assam in its manifesto ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections. The state Cabinet had approved the Bill in its first meeting held on the 13th of this month.
The Uniform Civil Code, Assam, 2026 Bill proposes a single civil legal framework for all residents governing marriage, divorce, succession and live-in relationships, according to the state government.
As per the bill, marriages are required to be registered within 60 days of the ceremony, while live-in relationships must be registered within 30 days. Deliberate failure to register marriage or divorce within the stipulated 60-day period will attract a penalty of Rs 10,000, the statement said.
Speaking to ANI, BJP MLA Diganta Kalita on Wednesday praised the government for fulfilling a key election promise and described the move as historic.
"Our Chief Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, stated previously that if we were to return to power, the implementation of the UCC would be our top priority. Today marks a truly significant--indeed, a momentous--occasion for us. This day will go down in the history of the 16th Assam Legislative Assembly," Kalita said.
Assam Transport and Bodoland Welfare Minister Charan Boro sought to allay fears regarding the impact of the bill, particularly concerning the state's diverse indigenous populations.
"There is really no cause for undue concern regarding the UCC. Because we are a tribal people, and tribal communities are completely exempt from the UCC, whatever matters currently govern us will remain intact. It seems there is no subject here that warrants any such apprehension or alarm," he said.
Uttarakhand was the first state to pass a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill in February 2024, followed by Gujarat, which cleared the legislation with a majority voice vote after a marathon debate lasting over seven hours in March 2026.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Seems like a pragmatic law. In my view, a uniform code reduces legal confusion, especially for issues like succession. But I worry about the fines—₹10,000 is steep for many. Hope the registration process is streamlined for rural areas where people may not have easy access to government offices.
I'm cautiously supportive but concerned about certain provisions. While banning polygamy is good, making live-in registration compulsory feels intrusive. What about privacy concerns? Also, the bill exempts tribal communities—that's necessary given our diversity, but could create a two-tier system. Let's hope implementation is thoughtful. 🤔
This is great news! For long we've seen how personal laws have been misused, especially against women. Polygamy was never a religious necessity—it's outdated. Himanta Biswa Sarma is delivering on promises. However, more debate on how this affects interfaith couples would be helpful. Still, a historic day for Assam indeed!
I appreciate the intent but this feels rushed. Uniformity doesn't automatically mean equality—different communities have different needs. The 30-day registration for live-ins might scare couples away from formalising their relationships. Also, what about enforcement? In a state with diverse terrain, how will this reach everyone? Let's see if this genuinely benefits citizens or just becomes another paperwork burden. 😕
A welcome move towards gender justice. Banning polygamy is long overdue—it disproportionately harms women. Standardising marriage ages (21 and 18) makes sense legally. But I'm curious how this
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.