Assam Assembly Passes UCC Bill, First Northeast State to Adopt Uniform Civil Code
May 27, 2026
The Assam Legislative Assembly on Wednesday passed the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill, 2026, making Assam the first state in the Northeast and the third state in India to adopt such legislation.
The Bill was introduced during the first session of the 16th Assam Legislative Assembly on Monday by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Atul Bora on behalf of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. It was passed on the concluding day of the session after discussions in the House.
The legislation aims to establish a common civil legal framework for all residents of the state in matters related to marriage, divorce, succession, inheritance, and live-in relationships. However, Scheduled Tribes have been kept outside the purview of the law to protect their constitutional safeguards and customary practices.
Under the new provisions, monogamy has been made mandatory, while the legal age for marriage has been fixed at 21 years for men and 18 years for women. The Bill also allows marriages to be solemnized through existing religious ceremonies, customs, and traditional practices, ensuring protection of cultural and religious diversity.
Speaking to the media after the passage of the Bill, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the legislation would now be sent to the Governor of Assam and later forwarded to the President of India for assent. He added that the Uniform Civil Code would be implemented in the state after receiving Presidential approval.
The Chief Minister described the passage of the Bill as a historic achievement and said the adoption of the UCC was one of the key promises made in the ruling alliance’s election manifesto.
