Assam Tables Uniform Civil Code Bill, 2026; Scheduled Tribes Kept Outside Its Scope

On 25 May 2026, the Assam government introduced the Uniform Civil Code (Assam) Bill, 2026 in the state assembly. A Uniform Civil Code (UCC) is a common set of laws governing personal matters such as marriage, divorce, inheritance and succession for all citizens, regardless of religion. The idea is rooted in Article 44 of the Constitution, a Directive Principle of State Policy, which directs the State to try to secure a uniform civil code for citizens. Since Independence, personal matters have largely been governed by religion-based personal laws.

A key feature of the Assam Bill is that members of Scheduled Tribes (STs) are kept outside its scope. According to the 2011 Census, Scheduled Tribes make up about 12.45 per cent of Assam's population. Central government leaders have stated that wherever a UCC is brought in, tribal communities are being kept out of its purview so that their customs and traditions are not affected.

The Bill sets the minimum marriage age at 21 years for men and 18 years for women, and bans polygamy by requiring that neither party have a living spouse at the time of marriage. It makes registration of all marriages and divorces mandatory where at least one party is a resident of Assam, with a fine of up to Rs 25,000 for failure to register. It also requires partners in a live-in relationship to submit a statement to the local sub-registrar, who forwards it to the police for record; if a partner is below 21, parents or guardians are to be informed. A child born of a live-in relationship is treated as a legitimate child, and a deserted live-in partner can claim maintenance.

The Bill also lays down grounds for divorce, rules for the division of a deceased person's property among heirs, and penalties for violations. With this step, Assam becomes the latest state to move on a UCC. Earlier, Uttarakhand became the first state to pass a UCC law in February 2024, and Gujarat followed in 2026. Goa has long had a common civil code derived from an older Portuguese-era code.