Steering Equality and Justice: Assam Uniform Civil Code, 2026

Abstract

The Assam Uniform Civil Code (UCC) 2026 is a transformative legal experiment designed to replace fragmented personal laws with a unified civil framework grounded in constitutional principles of gender justice and secularism. It seeks to safeguard vulnerable populations—including women, children, and the elderly— by standardising marriage and divorce procedures, enforcing gender-equal succession, regulating live-in relationships, and modernising civil administration through digital record systems and specialised registrars, while exempting Scheduled Tribes to respect their customary autonomy. While proponents see the UCC as a path to equality and elimination of discriminatory practices, critics caution that it risks eroding cultural traditions and intrudes upon personal autonomy through state overreach.

Keywords

Equality, Secularism, Traditions, Scheduled Tribes, Autonomy, Assam, India

Author Biography

Madhushree Das

Professor Dr Madhushree Das is a distinguished academic and researcher currently serving as a Professor in the Department of Geography at Gauhati University in Assam, India. With a prolific career spanning 27 years in teaching and research, she has established herself as a leading expert in Social, Cultural, and Gender Geography, as well as in Tribal Studies and Criminology. In a significant recent achievement, Prof. Das was named a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society (with the Institute of British Geographers) in 2026. Throughout her tenure at Gauhati University, she has also held major academic leadership roles, including serving as the Head of the Department of Geography and the Dean of the Faculty of Science.

Born on 15 March 1973, Prof. Das built a strong foundation in geographical sciences, holding a Master of Arts in Geography with a specialisation in Social Geography, an M.Phil., and a PhD in Social Geography centred on Tribal women in Assam, India. Her academic brilliance was recognised early on through numerous accolades, including the National Talent Search Award, an Academic Gold Medal, the Dipali Borthakur Memorial Award, and the Bhubeneswari Goswami Memorial Gold Medal.

Prof. Das commenced her teaching career as a Lecturer in January 1999, was subsequently elevated to the rank of Professor, and continues to serve in this role today. Deeply dedicated to academic mentorship, she has successfully guided 7 M.Phil. and 10 PhD scholars to the completion of their degrees, with an additional 10 PhD candidates currently under her active supervision.

As a researcher, she has successfully spearheaded several major grant-funded projects, including a University Grants Commission (UGC) Minor project (2005–2007), a UGC Major project (2013–2016), and an Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) Major project (2023–2024). Her scholarly contributions are extensive, comprising 72 publications, including 15 articles in international peer-reviewed journals. Furthermore, she has authored three books and edited four, including two published by the prestigious academic publisher Springer Nature.

A globally engaged academic, Prof. Das has presented her research at numerous prestigious international platforms, supported in part by International Geographical Union (IGU) Travel Grants to South Africa, Germany, and Japan. Her notable international presentations span decades, beginning with the 2002 IGU Regional Conference in Durban and the 2005 Commonwealth Geographical Bureau workshop in Colombo. She further shared her expertise at the 2009 IGU Gender Conference in Hungary, the 2012 IGU Congress in Cologne, the 2013 IGU Congress in Kyoto, and the 2017 AAG Annual Meeting in Boston, addressing topics ranging from tribal women and climate change to witch-hunting in Assam. She has also presented at the 2025 RGS-IBG Conference in Birmingham on ecofeminism and climate resilience on Majuli Island. In addition to her international work, she has been highly active in domestic academic circuits, participating in 68 conferences and delivering over 50 invited lectures, while also representing Gauhati University in academic collaboration programs with institutions in Australia and the United Kingdom.

Prof. Das pairs her academic prowess with substantial administrative leadership and extensive professional affiliations. Alongside her past roles as Head of Department and Dean, she serves on the Academic Council, Governing Bodies, and the Board of Studies at Gauhati University. Her prominence in the Indian academic landscape is underscored by her roles as General Secretary of the North East India Geographical Society, Vice-President of the Social Science Research Community (SSRC India), and Joint Secretary of the Society for Pathways to Sustainability, India. Furthermore, she holds significant positions as a Member of the Executive Council and Member of the Court at Cotton University.

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