Guwahati: Himanta Biswa Sarma 2.0 in its first cabinet in the first meeting on Wednesday has decided to table the UCC bill on May 26 in the state assembly.
The government has also decided to bring the consumption of petrol and diesel in government by at least 20 percent. The government has frozen purchasing of new vehicles for six months and also puts a bar on foreign tours for next six months for officials and ministers.
Sarma took over as the chief minister for the second time on Tuesday. Sarma said the Cabinet had approved the draft UCC and decided to table the proposed legislation on the final day of the upcoming Assam Legislative Assembly session on May 26.
Also Read | Himanta Biswa Sarma begins 2nd stint as Assam chief minister
The Cabinet has approved the draft of the Uniform Civil Code and decided to present it on the last day of the Assembly session. Drawing comparisons with other BJP-ruled states, the Chief Minister noted that Uttarakhand, Goa and Gujarat had already moved ahead with UCC implementation, while Assam has now formally approved its own version.
He explained the proposed UCC in Assam would be limited to fixing a uniform minimum age for marriage, abolition of polygamy, inheritance rights for women, and regulation of live-in relationships, including compulsory registration of marriages and divorces.
He added, “The UCC will be implemented without any interference in religious affairs and practices. Exemption will be provided to tribals both in the hills and plans.”
He added “We have also kept all the religious rituals, traditions and customs practised by the people of Assam outside the scope of the UCC.”
The Cabinet decision comes ahead of the first session of the newly elected Assam Legislative Assembly, scheduled to be held on May 21, 22, 25 and 26.
Sarma said the portfolios of ministers in the new Cabinet would be announced shortly and they would take oath during the upcoming 16th Assembly session.
He also announced that senior BJP MLA Chandra Mohan Patowary had been recommended as the pro tem Speaker for the upcoming Assembly session. Following the swearing-in of MLAs, the election for the Speaker’s post will be held, with the NDA fielding former minister Ranjeet Kumar Dass as its candidate.
The Assam Chief Minister said that expansion of the Assam cabinet in the first week of June after the completion of the Assembly session.
He said that BJP’s 2026 election manifesto is the guiding principle of the government. A High-level task force under the Assam Chief Secretary will prepare a roadmap for providing two lakh government jobs within five years; a report to be submitted within three months.
Also Read | From Congress strategist to BJP strongman: Himanta returns as Assam CM
Announcing austerity measures in view of the global energy crisis, Sarma said the government will not purchase any new vehicles for the next six months, including for newly inducted ministers, who have been directed to continue using existing vehicles.
He added, “The newly elected ministers will not get any new vehicles for six months. Existing vehicles will continue to be used. The government has also imposed a temporary ban on all official and personal foreign travel by ministers, officers and government employees for the next six months. From tomorrow onwards, no government minister, employee or officer will be able to travel abroad, even at their own expense, for the next six months, except in cases of medical emergencies."
He further said that any official foreign visit would now require prior approval from the Chief Minister’s Office, while officials have been encouraged to participate in international conferences and seminars virtually from Guwahati.
The Assam government decided to reduce the size of convoys attached to ministers and senior officials, including those associated with the Raj Bhavan. “Including that of the Governor’s, convoys of ministers and government officials will be downsized for at least the next six months."
He detailed that the state government has also decided to cut fuel expenditure by 20% compared to the previous financial year and avoid the procurement of foreign-made products during the austerity period. “For the next six months, the Assam government will not purchase international or foreign products, whether mobile phones or other items.”
Government has decided that physical seminars and workshops organised by government departments have also been suspended for the next six months and will instead be conducted virtually to minimise expenditure. At the same time, the government announced plans to hire electric vehicles and gradually phase out vehicles older than 15 to 20 years as part of an energy conservation strategy.
The government has also decided to bring the consumption of petrol and diesel in government by at least 20 percent. The government has frozen purchasing of new vehicles for six months and also puts a bar on foreign tours for next six months for officials and ministers.
Sarma took over as the chief minister for the second time on Tuesday. Sarma said the Cabinet had approved the draft UCC and decided to table the proposed legislation on the final day of the upcoming Assam Legislative Assembly session on May 26.
Also Read | Himanta Biswa Sarma begins 2nd stint as Assam chief minister
The Cabinet has approved the draft of the Uniform Civil Code and decided to present it on the last day of the Assembly session. Drawing comparisons with other BJP-ruled states, the Chief Minister noted that Uttarakhand, Goa and Gujarat had already moved ahead with UCC implementation, while Assam has now formally approved its own version.
He explained the proposed UCC in Assam would be limited to fixing a uniform minimum age for marriage, abolition of polygamy, inheritance rights for women, and regulation of live-in relationships, including compulsory registration of marriages and divorces.
He added, “The UCC will be implemented without any interference in religious affairs and practices. Exemption will be provided to tribals both in the hills and plans.”
He added “We have also kept all the religious rituals, traditions and customs practised by the people of Assam outside the scope of the UCC.”
The Cabinet decision comes ahead of the first session of the newly elected Assam Legislative Assembly, scheduled to be held on May 21, 22, 25 and 26.
Sarma said the portfolios of ministers in the new Cabinet would be announced shortly and they would take oath during the upcoming 16th Assembly session.
He also announced that senior BJP MLA Chandra Mohan Patowary had been recommended as the pro tem Speaker for the upcoming Assembly session. Following the swearing-in of MLAs, the election for the Speaker’s post will be held, with the NDA fielding former minister Ranjeet Kumar Dass as its candidate.
The Assam Chief Minister said that expansion of the Assam cabinet in the first week of June after the completion of the Assembly session.
He said that BJP’s 2026 election manifesto is the guiding principle of the government. A High-level task force under the Assam Chief Secretary will prepare a roadmap for providing two lakh government jobs within five years; a report to be submitted within three months.
Also Read | From Congress strategist to BJP strongman: Himanta returns as Assam CM
Announcing austerity measures in view of the global energy crisis, Sarma said the government will not purchase any new vehicles for the next six months, including for newly inducted ministers, who have been directed to continue using existing vehicles.
He added, “The newly elected ministers will not get any new vehicles for six months. Existing vehicles will continue to be used. The government has also imposed a temporary ban on all official and personal foreign travel by ministers, officers and government employees for the next six months. From tomorrow onwards, no government minister, employee or officer will be able to travel abroad, even at their own expense, for the next six months, except in cases of medical emergencies."
He further said that any official foreign visit would now require prior approval from the Chief Minister’s Office, while officials have been encouraged to participate in international conferences and seminars virtually from Guwahati.
The Assam government decided to reduce the size of convoys attached to ministers and senior officials, including those associated with the Raj Bhavan. “Including that of the Governor’s, convoys of ministers and government officials will be downsized for at least the next six months."
He detailed that the state government has also decided to cut fuel expenditure by 20% compared to the previous financial year and avoid the procurement of foreign-made products during the austerity period. “For the next six months, the Assam government will not purchase international or foreign products, whether mobile phones or other items.”
Government has decided that physical seminars and workshops organised by government departments have also been suspended for the next six months and will instead be conducted virtually to minimise expenditure. At the same time, the government announced plans to hire electric vehicles and gradually phase out vehicles older than 15 to 20 years as part of an energy conservation strategy.
