In a significant step toward fulfilling a key election promise, the Assam Cabinet under Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday approved the draft of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill during the first sitting of the NDA 3.0 government. The bill is scheduled to be introduced in the state Assembly on May 26, the last day of the session to be started on 21 May.
Addressing the media after the first cabinet meeting of his second government, Sarma described the decision as a major milestone in implementing the BJP-led NDA’s Sankalpa Patra (election manifesto). “Assam cabinet has decided to introduce Uniform Civil Code Bill on the last day of the state assembly session on May 26. The state cabinet has approved the draft of UCC,” he said.
Elaborating on the bill’s scope, the CM stated that it would focus primarily on civil matters common across communities while respecting Assam’s unique cultural fabric. “Basically, the UCC will deal with marriage, live-in relationship and compulsory registration of marriage, including divorce. It will be almost in sync with Gujarat, Uttarakhand and Goa,” the Chief Minister explained.
The first sitting of the #AssamCabinet of NDA 3.0 has approved the draft UCC Bill. A key promise of our Sankalpa Patra is now one step closer to being fulfilled.
— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) May 13, 2026
Rituals and customs practised by the people of Assam will remain outside the scope of the UCC in the state. pic.twitter.com/zvB35oqQhe
The UCC seeks to replace religion-based personal laws governing matters such as marriage, divorce, inheritance and adoption with a common set of laws applicable to all citizens. During his last government, several provisions of UCC like marriage registration, restrictions on polygamy and child marriage were already implemented.
A key highlight of the Assam-specific draft is the explicit exclusion of tribal populations and local customs. The CM said that the tribal communities will be completely exempted from the scope of the law. Similarly, religious customs, rituals, and traditions of Assam will also not come under the UCC. This provision aligns with the government’s commitment to safeguarding the state’s diverse cultural identity and indigenous practices.
The move comes days after Sarma took oath for a second consecutive term following the NDA’s landslide victory in the state elections. The UCC was a prominent promise in the party’s manifesto, and Sarma has repeatedly vowed to implement it “under the ambit of the Constitution.” “UCC is a part of our manifesto. We will try to implement every word mentioned in our manifesto under the ambit of the Constitution,” he reiterated.
Assam would join a growing list of BJP-ruled states pursuing a UCC. Uttarakhand implemented its version in early 2025, while Gujarat passed a similar law earlier this year. Goa has long operated under a common civil code. The proposed legislation aims to promote uniformity in personal laws, particularly on issues like polygamy, child marriage, inheritance, and live-in relationships, while steering clear of religious rituals or tribal customs.
CM Sarma has positioned the UCC as a constitutional and equality-driven reform that balances national integration with regional sensitivities. The bill is expected to spark debate in the Assembly, as Muslims oppose UCC and most opposition MLAs in the new assembly are Muslims.
