Uniform Civil Code Bill Passed in Assam Assembly; CM Himanta Sarma Makes Significant Statement

The Assam Legislative Assembly passed the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill, 2026, on Wednesday. The BJP-led state government had introduced the bill in the House on Monday. With this, Assam has become the first state in the Northeast—and the third BJP-ruled state, following Uttarakhand and Gujarat—to take steps toward enacting this legislation. The bill was passed amidst an uproar by the opposition, which had demanded that it be referred to a Select Committee. The UCC was one of the BJP’s key election promises ahead of the 2026 Assam Assembly elections, and the State Cabinet had approved its draft during its first meeting earlier this month. The objective of this bill is to establish a uniform civil legal framework for all residents of the state, covering matters such as marriage, divorce, inheritance, and live-in relationships. Key provisions of the bill include a ban on polygamy and making the registration of marriages and live-in relationships mandatory. According to the draft legislation, it will be mandatory to register a marriage within 60 days of the ceremony, while couples in live-in relationships will be required to register within 30 days. According to the state government, the bill also provides for penalties for non-compliance with the rules; specifically, a fine of ₹10,000 will be imposed for failing to register a marriage or divorce within the stipulated timeframe. On Wednesday, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma asserted that the Congress party had advocated for a Uniform Civil Code as early as 1925. He alleged that the opposition party is no longer secular and has instead become a representative of a specific community. Responding to questions raised during the discussion on the ‘Assam, 2026 Bill,’ he stated that the proposed legislation is grounded in Article 44 of the Constitution, rather than in any ideology of the BJP or the RSS—as alleged by the opposition. Sarma noted that the Uniform Civil Code has a long history, and the demand for it was first raised by the Congress party in 1925.