he Assam Legislative Assembly on Wednesday passed the Uniform Civil Code Bill, 2026, by voice vote following an extensive debate amid strong protests from the Opposition benches.
The Bill, introduced by the BJP-led state government on Monday, makes Assam the first state in the Northeast and the third BJP-ruled state after Uttarakhand and Gujarat to enact such legislation.
The UCC was one of the BJP’s key promises ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections, and the draft Bill had received Cabinet approval during the government’s first meeting earlier this month.
The legislation aims to establish a common civil legal framework for all residents of the state, covering matters such as the legal age of marriage, inheritance rights, polygamy and live-in relationships.
Participating in the discussion, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma clarified that tribal communities have been kept outside the purview of the UCC as they follow their own well-established customary laws and traditions.
