The Assam Legislative Assembly on Wednesday passed the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill, 2026 amid strong protests from opposition parties demanding that the legislation be referred to a select committee for further scrutiny.
The Bill was introduced in the Assembly on Monday by the BJP-led Assam government. With its passage, Assam has become the first northeastern state and the third BJP-ruled state after Uttarakhand and Gujarat to move forward with a Uniform Civil Code framework.
The UCC was one of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s major promises ahead of the 2026 Assam Assembly elections. Earlier this month, the state Cabinet approved the draft legislation during its first meeting after the formation of the new government.
The proposed law seeks to establish a common civil legal framework applicable to all residents of the state, covering matters related to marriage, divorce, succession, and live-in relationships.
Among its major provisions, the Bill proposes a complete ban on polygamy and makes registration of marriages and live-in relationships mandatory. According to the draft legislation, marriages must be officially registered within 60 days of the ceremony, while couples entering live-in relationships will be required to complete registration within 30 days.
The Bill also includes provisions for penalties in cases of non-compliance. As per the state government, deliberate failure to register marriages or divorces within the prescribed timeline could attract a fine of ₹10,000.
The legislation triggered uproar inside the Assembly, with opposition parties objecting to the manner in which the Bill was passed and demanding a detailed review through a select committee. Despite the protests, the government pushed ahead with the legislation and secured its passage in the House.
The passage of the Bill is being viewed as a significant political and legal development in Assam, with the state government describing it as a step towards ensuring uniform civil laws and legal clarity across communities.
