Key Highlights
- Assam became the first Northeastern state and the third Indian state to pass a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) law.
- The legislation mandates registration of live‑in relationships and grants legal status to children born from such unions.
- Minimum marriage ages are set at 18 for women and 21 for men, with stringent penalties for child marriage.
- Polygamy, bigamy and forced or fraudulent marriages are criminalised, carrying up to seven years’ imprisonment.
- Tribal customs and religious rituals are expressly exempted from the code.
Detailed Insights
The 16th Assam Legislative Assembly approved the Uniform Civil Code Bill, 2026 during its inaugural session. Introduced by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Atul Bora on behalf of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, the bill creates a single civil law framework governing marriage, divorce, succession and live‑in partnerships for all residents of the state.
Live‑in couples must register their partnership with the local Sub‑Registrar within 30 days; failure attracts up to three months’ imprisonment, a fine of ₹10,000, or both. If either partner is under 21, parental or guardian consent is required. Children born to duly registered partners are recognised as legitimate, and a departing female partner may claim maintenance through the courts.
The code fixes the legal marriageable age at 18 for women and 21 for men and imposes up to two years’ imprisonment and a fine for anyone facilitating child marriage. Polygamy and bigamy are prohibited under Section 82 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, with a maximum penalty of seven years’ imprisonment.
Marriages entered by force, threat, deception or concealment of an existing marriage are punishable by up to seven years’ incarceration and monetary fines. Marriages between close blood relatives – such as siblings, parent‑child, uncle‑niece or aunt‑nephew – are barred, except where recognized by valid customary law; violations may lead to six months’ imprisonment and a fine of ₹50,000.
Both marriage and divorce must be registered within 60 days; non‑compliance or falsification of documents can attract a ₹10,000 penalty, up to three months’ imprisonment, and/or a ₹25,000 fine. The code also protects divorced individuals from coercive remarriage conditions, prescribing up to three years’ imprisonment and a fine of ₹1 lakh for violators.
For child custody, the default rule places children under five years of age with their mother, establishing a clear presumption in the child's best interest.
Importantly, the legislation exempts tribal communities from its provisions and preserves the autonomy of religious rites, traditional customs, cultural practices and community traditions.