Assam Becomes Third State to Pass UCC Bill, Sarma Calls It a Promise Kept

The Assam Legislative Assembly has passed the Uniform Civil Code Bill, making the state only the third in India — after Uttarakhand and Gujarat — to enact such legislation. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma hailed the passage as the fulfilment of a key electoral commitment his government had made to the people of Assam, describing it as a step towards ensuring parity in personal laws regardless of religious affiliation. The legislation consolidates the rules governing marriage, divorce, inheritance, and adoption into a single common framework, effectively replacing religion-specific personal laws. While the ruling dispensation has positioned the UCC as an instrument of gender equality and social cohesion, critics have voiced concerns about the erosion of cultural autonomy and the implications for federal governance. Sarma assured the Assembly that extensive consultations preceded the drafting of the Bill and that adequate provisions have been built in to safeguard the customs and traditions of Assam's indigenous communities. The law is expected to take effect once it receives the Governor's assent and the requisite rules are formally notified. Assam's move adds momentum to a broader push by BJP-governed states for legal uniformity in civil matters, and has reignited the debate around implementing a nationwide UCC — a long-standing plank of the party's political agenda.