The Assam UCC Bill, 2026, introduces a common civil framework covering marriage, divorce, inheritance, and live-in relationships while exempting Scheduled Tribes from its provisions.

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• The Assam Legislative Assembly passed the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Assam Bill, 2026, making Assam the first state in Northeast India and the third state in the country to adopt such legislation.
• The Bill prohibits polygamy and bigamy, with violations punishable by up to seven years of imprisonment under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
• Scheduled Tribes in Assam have been exempted from the law to protect their customary practices and constitutional safeguards.
• The legislation makes registration of live-in relationships mandatory within one month and provides legal recognition to children born from such unions.
• Women deserted by live-in partners are entitled to claim maintenance under the new legal framework.
• Marriage and divorce registration have been made compulsory, with the minimum marriage age fixed at 21 years for men and 18 years for women.
• The Bill introduces a gender-equal inheritance system that ensures uniform rights for spouses, children, and parents irrespective of religion.
• The Uniform Civil Code derives its constitutional basis from Article 44 of the Directive Principles of State Policy, which encourages the State to secure a common civil code for citizens.
• The Supreme Court has repeatedly supported the idea of a UCC through landmark judgments such as Shah Bano (1985), Sarla Mudgal (1995), Shayara Bano (2017), and Jose Paulo Coutinho (2019).
• Supporters view the UCC as a tool for gender justice, equality, and national integration, while critics raise concerns regarding religious freedom, privacy, and cultural autonomy.