The Assam Legislative Assembly passed the Uniform Civil Code, Assam,2026, making Assam the first state in Northeast India and the third statenationwide (following Uttarakhand and Gujarat) post-independence. Goaalso has one common civil law, which continued from the Portuguese colonialperiod. Constitutional Basis: ● Article 44 (DPSP): Part IV of the Indian Constitution directs the stateto endeavor to secure a Uniform Civil Code for citizens throughout theterritory of India.● Seventh Schedule (Concurrent List): Personal laws (marriage, divorce,inheritance, adoption) fall under Entry 5 of the Concurrent List. Thisempowers both Parliament and state legislatures to enact laws onthese subjects. Key Provisions of the Assam UCC 2026 1.Marriage Regulations & Ban on Polygamy Legal Age: Standardized at 21 years for men and 18 years for women, universally. Ban on Bigamy/Polygamy: Completely prohibited. No person can marry if they have a living spouse. Violations invite imprisonment of upto 7 years under Section 82 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), uf an existing marriage is concealed, the punishment can extend up to 10 years. Existing polygamous marriages are protected via a savings clause. Prohibited Relationships: Lists 37 "degrees of prohibited relationship"(including first cousins) within which marriage is illegal, unlesspermitted by recognized customs. Mandatory Registration: All marriages must be registered with theSub-Registrar within 60 days. Ceremonial Freedom: Grants full freedom to solemnize marriages via any religious custom (e.g., Vedic Bibah, Ahom Chaklong, Nikah, Anand Karaj) 2.Divorce Framework Uniform Grounds: Prescribes common grounds for divorce (e.g., cruelty, desertion, mutual consent) for all communities. Ban on Extrajudicial Divorce: No marriage can be dissolved without a formal court order. Prohibited Practices: Customary divorce practices such as triple talaq, nikah halala, and iddat are strictly outlawed. 3.Live in Relationships Mandatory Registration: Couples entering a live-in relationship must register with the sub-registrar within 30 days. This applies even to Assam residents living outside the state. Protection of Rights: Children: Any child born out of a registered live-in relationship is recognized as fully legitimate with full succession rights. Maintenance: Deserted partners (primarily women) are granted explicit legal standing to claim financial maintenance through the courts. Termination: Couples must submit a formal statement of termination when the relationship ends. 4.Succession and Inheritance Gender Parity: Introduces a uniform, gender-equal order of preference for intestate (without a will) succession. Class 1 Heirs: Ensures fair and equal distribution among spouses, children (both sons and daughters), and parents, removing historical gender disparities found in various religious personal laws. Testamentary Succession: Any adult of sound mind is granted the legal right to execute a written, witnessed will for their estate. 5.Exemption for Scheduled Tribes (ST) Provision: Scheduled Tribes (both hill and plain tribes) are completely exempted from the purview of the Assam UCC. Rationale: To protect unwritten customary laws, cultural practices, and socio-cultural fabric as guaranteed under the Sixth Schedule (governing Bodoland, Karbi Anglong, Dima Hasao) and Articles 342/366 of the Constitution.
