Uniform divorce grounds : cruelty, desertion, mutual consent.
Child custody : children under 5 years with mother .
Inheritance : gender-equal – spouse, children, parents are Class-I heirs .
Tribal communities (Scheduled Tribes) exempted .
Forced/fraudulent marriages – up to 7 years jail .
Child marriage – up to 2 years jail (as per Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006).
Prohibited relationships (brother-sister, uncle-niece etc.) – up to 6 months jail, ₹50,000 fine (customary exceptions allowed).
Will repeal Assam Compulsory Registration of Muslim Marriages and Divorces Act, 2024 .
Assam joins Uttarakhand and Gujarat in UCC legislation.
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
Q1: What is the Assam UCC Bill 2026?
A: It is a proposed law that creates common personal laws for marriage, divorce, inheritance, and live-in relationships for all residents of Assam, irrespective of their religion. It bans polygamy and makes live-in registration mandatory.
Q2: Does the Bill apply to tribal communities?
A: No. Scheduled Tribes (Hills and Plains) living in Assam are fully exempted from the Bill.
Q3: What is the punishment for polygamy under the Bill?
A: Polygamy or bigamy will attract imprisonment of up to seven years under Section 82 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.
Q4: Do live-in couples have to register under the new law?
A: Yes. Live-in relationships must be registered within one month. Failure can lead to three months of imprisonment or a fine of ₹10,000.
Q5: Who gets custody of young children under the Bill?
A: The Bill states that children below the age of five years will ordinarily remain in the custody of their mother.