Assam UCC Bill 2026: New Personal Laws for Marriage, Divorce, and Live-in Relationships

On child custody, the Bill gives priority to the mother. Children below the age of five years will ordinarily remain in the custody of the mother.

Inheritance and Succession

The Bill introduces a uniform and gender-equal inheritance framework. When a person dies without leaving a will (intestate succession), the Class-I heirs will be the spouse, children, and parents. All will have equal rights. Any adult of sound mind also has the right to make a written and witnessed will.

Exemptions for Tribal Communities

The Bill does not apply to Scheduled Tribes (Hills and Plains) living in Assam. Traditional religious customs, practices, and rituals are also exempted. This means tribal communities can continue to follow their own personal laws and customs.

Penalties for Violations

The Bill has strong penal provisions to prevent exploitation and fraud. Marriages conducted through force, threat, coercion, or concealment of an existing marriage can lead to imprisonment of up to seven years along with a fine. Child marriage will attract imprisonment of up to two years or a fine, or both, under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006. Marriages within prohibited relationships (like brother-sister or uncle-niece) can lead to imprisonment of up to six months and a fine of up to ₹50,000, unless protected by valid custom.

Political Reactions

The ruling BJP has hailed the Bill as a landmark reform for equality. However, opposition parties including the Congress, Raijor Dal, and Trinamool Congress have opposed it. They demanded wider consultations with stakeholders before the Bill was introduced. The opposition says the Bill violates fundamental rights and is "anti-Muslim".

What Happens Next?

The Bill is expected to be taken up for discussion and passage on 27 May 2026, the final day of the Assembly session. Once passed by the Assembly, it will need the Governor's assent and possibly the President's assent to become law. Assam will then join Uttarakhand and Gujarat as states that have enacted a UCC. The government has also said that the Bill will repeal the Assam Compulsory Registration of Muslim Marriages and Divorces Act, 2024.

Exam-Focused Points

• Assam UCC Bill 2026  tabled in state assembly on  25 May 2026 .

• Introduced by  Parliamentary Affairs Minister Atul Bora  on behalf of  Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma .

• Minimum marriage age :  21 years for men, 18 years for women .

• Polygamy and bigamy banned  – punishable with  up to 7 years imprisonment  under  Section 82 of BNS, 2023 .

• Live-in relationships  must be registered within  30 days  – failure leads to  3 months jail or ₹10,000 fine .

• Children born out of live-in relationships  are  legitimate .

• Marriage registration compulsory  within  60 days  – penalty  ₹10,000 .