Assam Assembly's Budget Session to Commence on July 6 Amid UCC Bill Passage

Upcoming Budget Session of Assam Assembly

According to an official announcement from the Assam Assembly Secretariat, the budget session of the 16th Assam Assembly is set to begin on July 6. This directive was issued by Assam Governor Laxman Prasad Acharya under Article 174(1) of the Constitution, which grants the governor the authority to summon the house. The session will kick off at 9:30 AM in the assembly chamber located in Dispur.

Previously, on May 27, the Assam Assembly passed the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) bill following extensive discussions between the ruling NDA led by the BJP and opposition parties. The primary aim of this legislation is to establish a uniform legal framework for marriage, divorce, inheritance, and live-in relationships, transcending religious boundaries.

Assam Joins Ranks with Other BJP-ruled States

With this development, Assam has become the first state in the Northeast and the third overall in India, after Uttarakhand and Gujarat, to enact such a law under BJP governance. However, Goa has had a common civil law in place since the Portuguese colonial era. This bill prohibits polygamy and sets the legal marriage age at 21 for grooms and 18 for brides. It also mandates the registration of marriages and live-in relationships, with penalties for non-compliance.

An official statement emphasized that this law preserves cultural diversity by allowing complete freedom of customs. It permits marriages through existing religious ceremonies or customs, including Vedic weddings, Ahom Chaklong, Saptapadi, Ashirwad, Nikah, Holy Union, and Anand Karaj.

Details of the UCC Bill

The UCC bill was introduced in the state assembly on May 25, proposing to ban polygamy and make the registration of live-in relationships mandatory. State Cabinet Minister Atul Bora presented the 'Uniform Civil Code Assam Bill 2026' on behalf of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. The BJP had pledged to implement the UCC in Assam as part of its manifesto ahead of the 2026 assembly elections. The state cabinet approved this bill during its first meeting on the 13th of this month.