Overview
- The Assam Legislative Assembly approved the Uniform Civil Code Bill on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, making the state the third after Uttarakhand and Gujarat to enact such a law.
- The law creates one set of rules for marriage, divorce, succession and live‑in relationships for non‑tribal residents and requires registration of marriages within 60 days and live‑in relationships within 30 days.
- Key criminal penalties include up to seven years’ jail for bigamy or polygamy and fines or brief jail terms for failing to register relationships or submitting false documents.
- The bill explicitly exempts Scheduled Tribe communities in Assam from its scope, a move the government says protects tribal customary law while opponents say it undermines the law’s uniformity.
- Opposition parties protested the speed of passage and the Speaker’s refusal to send the bill to a select committee, and legal challenges are expected after the Governor’s assent with debates likely to focus on religious freedom, privacy and enforcement.