The Assam Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, on Wednesday approved the implementation of a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the state and announced that a draft legislation will be tabled in the Assembly on May 26, the final day of the ongoing session.

The Chief Minister said the proposed law has been tailored to Assam’s social composition, particularly by keeping all tribal communities—both in the hills and plains—outside its purview. He also clarified that religious rituals, customs, and traditions will not be affected by the proposed framework, which he described as a “customised” version of the code.

According to the Cabinet decision, the UCC will regulate aspects such as minimum marriage age, prohibition of polygamy, property rights for women, live-in relationships, and mandatory registration of marriages and divorces. Sarma said the model draws from similar initiatives already adopted in states such as Uttarakhand, Goa, and Gujarat, while incorporating exemptions specific to Assam’s demographic and cultural structure.

Also Read: Russia’s Sarmat Missile: All About Nuclear-Capable ICBM With Multi-Warhead Capability

The Cabinet also resolved that the Bharatiya Janata Party’s election manifesto will serve as the guiding framework for governance over the next five years. It further announced the formation of a task force headed by the Chief Secretary to examine ways to create 2,00,000 jobs during the tenure, in line with the government’s electoral commitments.

In a separate set of decisions aimed at fiscal prudence, the government approved austerity measures including a six-month ban on purchasing new government vehicles and restrictions on foreign travel by officials except for medical emergencies. The Cabinet also directed a reduction in official convoys and a 20 percent cut in fuel expenditure over the next year, alongside limits on government procurement of foreign-made goods and suspension of offline seminars during the period.

The meeting also approved the establishment of a ₹32 crore museum in Guwahati dedicated to cultural icon Bhupen Hazarika and confirmed the concluding ceremony of his birth centenary celebrations in New Delhi. Additionally, the Cabinet extended the tenure of Advocate General Devajit Saikia for another five years, while indicating that a Cabinet expansion is likely in early June following the conclusion of the Assembly’s first session.

Also Read: High Court Seeks Policy From Uttarakhand on Release of Completed-Sentence Prisoners