The debate surrounding the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) intensified in Meghalaya on Wednesday after the Assam Assembly passed the UCC Bill, 2026, with Chief Minister Conrad Sangma asserting that safeguarding tribal rights and the state's matrilineal social structure remains the government's foremost concern.
Speaking to reporters, Chief Minister Sangma said the Meghalaya government is closely examining the provisions of the UCC laws introduced in states such as Assam and Uttarakhand before taking any final position on the matter. He added that when the concept of the Uniform Civil Code was initially discussed nationally, debates largely revolved around the term itself, without clarity on what the actual legislation would contain.
"Different interpretations and apprehensions naturally emerged because people did not know the exact provisions of the proposed law," the Chief Minister said. Chief Minister Sangma noted that for Meghalaya, a tribal-majority state governed by strong customary traditions, the principal concern has always been whether the implementation of a UCC would interfere with tribal laws, traditional practices and the matrilineal system followed by several indigenous communities.
The Chief Minister reiterated that he had earlier opposed the implementation of a Uniform Civil Code in Meghalaya due to the distinct customs and social structures of tribal communities in the state. However, he said a preliminary examination of the UCC legislations passed in states like Assam and Uttarakhand suggests that tribal customary laws have been kept outside the ambit of the law.
"From what we have seen on paper, there appear to be safeguards for tribal rights and traditional systems. That has given us some reassurance," CM Sangma added. At the same time, the Chief Minister clarified that the Meghalaya government would continue studying the legislation from both legal and political perspectives before arriving at any conclusion.
He stressed that the state government would not allow any national legislation to dilute Meghalaya's tribal identity, customary laws or traditional social framework. "The protection of tribal interests and our matrilineal system will remain our top priority," he said.
The passage of the UCC Bill in Assam has triggered fresh political and social discussions across the Northeast, particularly in tribal-majority states where customary practices enjoy constitutional protection.