GUWAHATI: Following in the footsteps of Uttarakhand and Gujarat, the Assam government on Monday (May 25, 2026) officially introduced the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill, 2026, in the State Legislative Assembly.
The high-stakes Bill, which seeks to overhaul personal laws across communities, was introduced by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Atul Bora on behalf of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. If successfully passed, Assam will become the third state in India to implement a Uniform Civil Code.
Key Highlights of the Assam UCC Bill 2026:
- Ban on Polygamy: The Bill proposes a complete prohibition on polygamy and bigamy across all communities in the state.
- Live-In Relationship Framework: For the first time, a dedicated legal structure has been drafted for live-in couples, making the registration of such relationships mandatory.
- Uniform Legal Marriage Age: The Bill fixes the statutory legal age of marriage at 21 years for men and 18 years for women.
- Consolidation of Personal Laws: It aims to simplify and streamline all existing laws pertaining to marriage, divorce, succession, and inheritance.
In the ‘Statement of Object and Reasons’ submitted with the Bill, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma highlighted that the legislation is designed to secure equality and safety for all citizens.
Speaking on the mandatory registration of live-in relationships, the Chief Minister stated, “For the first time, the Bill provides a legal framework for live-in relationships. By requiring registration, the law ensures that the rights of partners—and any children born from such unions—are formally recognised and protected.”
Opposition Staged Protests
The introduction of the contentious bill was met with fierce resistance from the opposition benches. Parties including the Congress, Raijor Dal, and the Trinamool Congress (TMC) vehemently opposed the move. Demanding that the bill be sent for wider public scrutiny, opposition leaders urged the government to hold comprehensive consultations with all relevant stakeholders, including tribal bodies and minority leaders, before passing the law.
The Third State to Pursue UCC
The Uniform Civil Code has been a long-standing objective outlined under Article 44 of the Directive Principles of State Policy in the Indian Constitution.
Assam joins a growing list of states moving toward state-level implementation of the UCC. Uttarakhand became the trailblazer by enacting its UCC law in early 2024. Just months ago, in March 2026, Gujarat followed suit by passing its own legislation.
The 126-member Assam Assembly is expected to witness heated debates in the coming days as the government pushes for the passage of the landmark legislation.
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