Guwahati, May 25: The Assam government on Monday introduced the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill in the State Assembly, proposing a ban on polygamy and making registration of live-in relationships compulsory.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Atul Bora tabled the Uniform Civil Code, Assam, 2026 Bill on behalf of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

Under the proposed law, all live-in couples in Assam will be required to formally register their relationship.

“For the first time, the Bill provides a legal framework for live-in relationships. By requiring registration, the law ensures that the rights of partners — and any children born from such unions — are formally recognised and protected,” the Chief Minister stated in the Bill.

The proposed legislation seeks to regulate personal relationships under a common legal framework and also aims to prohibit polygamy in the state.

In Assam, marriages have traditionally been governed by community customs and religious practices, with traditional Assamese weddings or Biya continuing to hold strong social and cultural importance. The proposed UCC, however, seeks to introduce a uniform legal structure for marriage and live-in relationships.

Live-in relationships are currently legal in India for consenting adults and are protected under Article 21 of the Constitution, which guarantees the Right to Life and Personal Liberty. Although India does not have a specific law governing live-in relationships, courts have recognised long-term live-in partnerships and extended legal protections to partners and children born from such unions.