The Assam Government will introduce the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill in the State Assembly on May 26. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma made the announcement while addressing the media after chairing the first Cabinet meeting of his second term as Chief Minister.

Mr Sarma said a special session of the Assam Assembly will be held from 21st to 26th of May, during which the newly elected MLAs will take oath. He added that the UCC Bill would be tabled on the concluding day of the session. He said the proposed legislation aims to address issues including the legal age of marriage, polygamy, inheritance, and live-in relationships.

He clarified that religious practices would remain outside the scope of the Bill. Tribal communities living in both the hill and plain regions of the State will also be exempted from the provisions of the proposed law. State Cabinet approved the draft Bill in yesterday’s meeting. With this move, Assam is set to become the third State, after Uttarakhand and Gujarat, to table a Uniform Civil Code Bill.