The Assam government has taken a major political and legal step by approving the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the state. The decision was cleared during the first cabinet meeting of the newly formed government led by Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday, with the state government announcing that the UCC Bill will be introduced in the Assam Legislative Assembly on May 26.
According to Chief Minister Sarma, the proposed UCC in Assam has been specially “customised” to suit the state’s social and ethnic diversity. The government has clarified that tribal communities living in both hill and plain areas of Assam will remain outside the purview of the law. Religious rituals, traditional customs, and indigenous cultural practices will also be protected under the proposed framework.
The proposed legislation is expected to regulate issues related to marriage, divorce, succession, inheritance rights, live-in relationships, and compulsory registration of marriages and divorces. The government is also likely to include provisions related to banning polygamy and ensuring equal inheritance rights for women.
Speaking after the cabinet meeting, Sarma described the move as one of the key promises made by the ruling alliance during the Assembly elections. He stated that the implementation of the UCC reflects the government’s commitment to legal uniformity and social reform.
The Assam model of the UCC is expected to differ from the versions implemented in states such as Uttarakhand and Goa, mainly because of the safeguards provided for tribal and indigenous communities in Assam. The Chief Minister said the government carefully considered the state’s demographic and cultural sensitivities while drafting the bill.
The move has already sparked political debate across the country. Supporters of the proposal argue that a Uniform Civil Code would ensure equal civil laws for all citizens regardless of religion and strengthen gender justice and legal clarity. Critics, however, have raised concerns over the possible impact on religious freedom and minority rights, despite the exemptions announced for tribal communities.
The UCC has long remained one of the most debated constitutional and political issues in India. Article 44 of the Indian Constitution directs the state to work toward a Uniform Civil Code for citizens, though successive governments at the national level have approached the issue cautiously due to India’s social and religious diversity.
Apart from approving the UCC draft, the Assam Cabinet also announced several governance and economic measures, including plans for job creation, expenditure control, restrictions on foreign travel for officials, and reduction in government fuel expenses amid global economic uncertainty.
The Assembly session in Assam is scheduled to begin on May 21, with the UCC Bill expected to be tabled on the concluding day of the session on May 26. Political observers believe the legislation could become one of the most significant policy initiatives of the new Assam government and may influence similar debates in other states across India.
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