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CM Sarma (centre) chairs his first cabinet meeting after assuming charge of office, on Wednesday. (Photo:PTI)

Guwahati, May 13: The newly formed Assam Cabinet convened for its inaugural meeting on Wednesday, making several administrative and policy decisions following the recent 2026 Assembly elections. Among these, the endorsement of the draft Uniform Civil Code (UCC) stood out as a pivotal legislative action.

During the announcement of the Cabinet's decisions, Himanta Biswa Sarma revealed that the draft UCC has been approved and will be presented for discussion on the final day of the upcoming Assam Legislative Assembly session, scheduled for May 26.

"Today, the Cabinet has sanctioned the draft of the Uniform Civil Code and decided to introduce it on the last day of the Assembly session," Sarma stated.

He drew parallels with other states governed by the BJP, noting that Uttarakhand, Goa, and Gujarat have already initiated UCC implementation, while Assam has now officially approved its own version.

Sarma explained that the proposed UCC in Assam will focus on four primary areas: establishing a uniform minimum marriage age, abolishing polygamy, ensuring inheritance rights for women, and regulating live-in relationships, which includes mandatory registration of marriages and divorces.

“This approach allows for the UCC's implementation without interfering with religious practices and affairs,” he emphasized.

The Chief Minister asserted that the Assam UCC model has been specifically designed to reflect the state's demographic and cultural contexts, granting complete exemptions to tribal communities residing in both hill and plain regions.

“Based on the approved UCC draft, tribal communities in both hills and plains will be excluded from the UCC's provisions,” he clarified.

Sarma further assured that the legislation would not disrupt the religious beliefs, rituals, or customs of various communities in Assam.

“We have ensured that all religious rituals, traditions, and customs practiced by the people of Assam remain outside the UCC's scope,” he added.

This Cabinet decision precedes the first session of the newly elected Assam Legislative Assembly, which is set to take place on May 21, 22, 25, and 26.

Sarma mentioned that the distribution of ministerial portfolios in the new Cabinet will be announced soon, with ministers expected to take their oaths during the upcoming 16th Assembly session.

Additionally, senior BJP MLA Chandra Mohan Patowary has been proposed as the pro tem Speaker for the forthcoming Assembly session.

After the swearing-in of MLAs, elections for the Speaker's position will occur, with the NDA nominating former minister Ranjeet Kumar Dass as its candidate.

The Chief Minister also hinted at a potential expansion of the Assam Cabinet in the first week of June, following the conclusion of the Assembly session.

Other Notable Decisions:

• The BJP's 2026 election manifesto has been adopted as the guiding principle for governance and policymaking for the next five years.

• A high-level task force led by the Assam Chief Secretary will develop a roadmap to create two lakh government jobs within five years, with a report due in three months.

• The concluding ceremony for Bhupen Hazarika’s birth centenary celebrations is scheduled to take place at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on September 8.

• The Cabinet has approved a proposal of Rs 32 crore for the construction of a Bhupen Hazarika museum at Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra.

• Of the total cost for the museum project, Rs 13 crore will be funded by the North Eastern Council, while the Assam government will cover the remaining expenses.

• Senior advocate Devajit Lon Saikia has been reappointed as the Advocate General of Assam for another five-year term.