The passage of the Assam Uniform Civil Code Bill 2026 marks the third BJP-ruled state to move ahead with common civil legislation, banning polygamy

The Assam Legislative Assembly has successfully passed the highly debated Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill, 2026, amid heavy resistance and loud shouting matches from opposition benches. The legislative clearance, passed via a voice vote on Wednesday, turns Assam into the third BJP-ruled state after Uttarakhand and Gujarat to establish a common civil framework. 

Core legal reforms introduced

The newly passed legislation aims to replace diverse, religion-based personal laws with a uniform set of civil codes governing marriage age, divorce, alimony, property inheritance, and child adoption across all resident communities. The law sets a standardized legal marriage age of 21 years for grooms and 18 years for brides. Crucially, it proposes stringent penalties for violations, including up to seven years of imprisonment for bigamy or polygamy, and up to three months in jail for failing to register a live-in relationship.

Exclusions for tribal populations

Addressing deep-seated concerns over the preservation of indigenous identities in the Northeast, the state government clarified that tribal communities will remain entirely outside the purview of the law. The Bill explicitly states that it will not apply to the Scheduled Tribes of Assam. To safeguard cultural diversity, full freedom of ritual remains intact, allowing marriages to be solemnized through any existing religious ceremony or custom, including Nikah, Vedic Bibah, Anand Karaj, or Holy Union.

Opposition flags social harmony

The opposition benches staged noisy protests, moving into the Well of the House and demanding that the legislation be referred to a select committee for wider public consultations. Speaker Ranjeet Kumar Dass rejected the demand, leading to sustained sloganeering while the ruling bench pushed the Bill through. Despite the political pushback, the ruling NDA coalition cleared the landmark bill, fulfilling a major core electoral promise from their assembly election manifesto.

The Assam Assembly passed the Uniform Civil Code Bill on Wednesday, making the state the third in the country to enact the common law after Uttarakhand and Gujarat.

The Assam Assembly on Wednesday passed the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill, 2026, bringing in a common legal framework for marriage, divorce, succession, and live-in relationships across all religious communities in the state. The legislation was cleared through a voice vote after a day-long debate that saw sharp exchanges between the treasury and opposition benches.

Opposition Walks to Well

As Speaker Ranjeet Kumar Dass rejected the opposition's demand to send the Bill to a select committee for wider consultations, legislators from Congress and other opposition parties moved to the Well of the House. They raised slogans even as the voting proceeded. The Speaker then called upon Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to move the Bill for passage.

Treasury benches responded with chants of "Bharat Mata Ki Jai" and "Jai Shree Ram" as the Bill was put to vote.

What the Bill Changes

According to the Statement of Object and Reasons attached to the Bill, the proposed law seeks to simplify and unify rules governing personal matters that are currently guided by different religious codes. The legislation explicitly bans polygamy across all communities.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma told the House that the Bill sets the minimum marriage age at 21 years for men and 18 years for women. Officials confirmed that the age provision applies uniformly regardless of religion.

Live-in Relationships Come Under Scanner

The Bill introduces a mandatory registration framework for live-in relationships. Sources familiar with the draft said the provision aims to formally recognise and protect the rights of partners and any children born from such relationships. Registration will be required within a specified timeframe, though procedural details are yet to be notified.

Local authorities in Guwahati and other district headquarters have begun preliminary groundwork for implementing the registration system, officials said.

Assam Joins Uttarakhand, Gujarat

With this passage, Assam becomes the third state after Uttarakhand and Gujarat to pass a UCC Bill. Goa already follows a common civil law framework dating back to the Portuguese era, though legal experts note that Goa's model differs in certain provisions.

The Assam UCC Bill 2026 had been flagged by the Sarma administration as a priority legislation. Speaking in the Assembly after tabling the Bill, the Chief Minister reminded members of his earlier stance. "I already gave this option before that I will clear the Bill in the first session itself. If you want to stop this, prevent me from becoming CM. There is no point now in sending it to a select committee," he said.

What Happens Next

The Bill now awaits the Governor's assent before it can be notified as an Act. Officials indicated that the implementation timeline would be worked out in consultation with district administrations. Legal experts have said challenges to certain provisions cannot be ruled out once the law comes into force.

The opposition has indicated it may explore legal options. Meanwhile, the state government is preparing a public awareness campaign ahead of implementation.