25 May,2026 11:43 AM IST | Guwahati | mid-day online correspondent
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. Pic/PTI
The Assam government on Monday introduced the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill in the state Assembly, nearly two weeks after the state Cabinet approved the draft legislation.
If passed, Assam will become the third state in the country after Uttarakhand and Gujarat to enact a Uniform Civil Code law.
The Bill, titled "The Uniform Civil Code, Assam, Bill, 2026", was tabled in the Assembly by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Atul Bora on behalf of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
According to Assembly proceedings, the proposed legislation is expected to be taken up for discussion and possible passage on May 27.
The Assam Cabinet had approved the draft Bill on May 13 during its first meeting after the formation of the new government.
At the time, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had announced that the legislation would be introduced during the ongoing Assembly session held between May 21 and May 26.
The BJP-led government has described the proposed law as an effort to bring uniformity in certain civil matters while protecting traditional customs and tribal practices.
The Assam government has clarified that Scheduled Tribes (Hills) and Scheduled Tribes (Plain) will remain outside the scope of the proposed Uniform Civil Code.
Officials also said traditional religious customs, practices and rituals would be exempted from the legislation.
According to the state government, the proposed UCC in Assam will mainly focus on issues related to the minimum age of marriage, prohibition of polygamy, equal property rights for daughters and matters concerning live-in relationships.
The government said the Bill aims to create a uniform legal framework in these areas while maintaining protections for tribal traditions and customs.
Uttarakhand became the first state in the country to implement a Uniform Civil Code after passing the legislation in 2024.
The Uttarakhand government has claimed that the law has strengthened women's rights and simplified legal procedures related to marriage registration.
Earlier this year, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said concerns regarding the law had eased after implementation and that women's safety and empowerment had improved.
The Uttarakhand government also stated that more than 4.74 lakh marriages had been registered online within a year under the new system.
Meanwhile, the Gujarat Assembly passed its UCC Bill earlier this year. The Gujarat legislation focuses on marriage, divorce, inheritance, maintenance and live-in relationships, with an emphasis on equal legal rights for women.
The Uniform Civil Code remains one of the major policy goals of the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Article 44 of the Constitution states that the State shall endeavour to secure a uniform civil code for citizens throughout the territory of India.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has repeatedly supported the implementation of a nationwide UCC and recently stated at a rally in West Bengal that such a law would help end "politics of appeasement."
The introduction of the UCC Bill comes shortly after the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) secured a decisive victory in the Assam Assembly elections.
The BJP won 82 seats in the 126-member Assembly, while alliance partners Asom Gana Parishad and Bodoland People's Front won 10 seats each, taking the NDA tally to 102 seats.
The strong majority is expected to help the government push key legislative measures, including the proposed Uniform Civil Code Bill, through the Assembly.
(With inputs from Agencies)
