GUWAHATI: The Assam Legislative Assembly on Wednesday, May 27, passed the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill, 2026, making Assam the first state in the Northeast and the third BJP-ruled state after Uttarakhand and Gujarat to move ahead with the legislation.
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The Bill, introduced in the Assembly on Monday by the BJP-led government, was passed amid strong protests from opposition parties, which demanded that the proposed law be referred to a select committee for further scrutiny.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the Bill will now be sent to the President for assent before it can come into force in the state.
“Once we receive the assent, the Bill will be implemented in Assam in letter and spirit,” Sarma said.
He also stated that the rules required for implementing the legislation have already been prepared, but cannot be formally notified until presidential approval is granted.
The Uniform Civil Code was one of the BJP’s major promises ahead of the Assam Assembly elections 2026. Earlier this month, the Assam Cabinet approved the draft Bill during its first meeting after the elections.
The legislation seeks to establish a common civil legal framework governing matters such as marriage, divorce, succession, and live-in relationships. However, Scheduled Tribes residing in Assam have been kept outside the ambit of the proposed law.
Among the key provisions of the Bill is a ban on polygamy and mandatory registration of marriages and live-in relationships. Under the proposed law, marriages must be registered within 60 days of the ceremony, while couples in live-in relationships will be required to register within 30 days.
The Bill also proposes penalties for non-compliance. According to the state government, deliberate failure to register a marriage or divorce within the prescribed period could attract a fine of ₹10,000.
