The Assam Assembly passed the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill, making it the third state after Uttarakhand and Gujarat to legislate on the issue, marking a significant political and legal milestone. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the move fulfills a key poll promise aimed at ensuring equality in personal laws across communities.

The legislation seeks to standardize laws governing marriage, divorce, inheritance, and adoption, replacing religion-based personal laws with a common framework. The government has argued that the UCC promotes gender justice and social harmony, while critics have raised concerns over cultural autonomy and federal overreach.

Sarma emphasized that adequate consultations were held before drafting the Bill and that safeguards have been incorporated to protect indigenous customs and practices. The Bill is expected to come into force after receiving the Governor’s assent and necessary rules are notified.

With this, Assam joins a growing list of BJP-ruled states pushing for legal uniformity in civil matters, a move that has also revived debate around a nationwide UCC, a long-standing agenda of the party.