The Assam government has proposed to amend its service rules to dismiss any employee found to have practised polygamy.

In his Budget speech in the 126-member House on Friday (July 10, 2026), Finance Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah said the government would amend the Assam Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1964, to make any polygamist government service liable for dismissal from service.

He also said any male practising polygamy in the State would not be eligible for benefits under any government welfare scheme. “This is keeping with our unwavering commitment to women empowerment, gender justice, and responsible family values,” he said.

The government also proposed making any person convicted of any offence under any criminal law ineligible for any benefits under notified welfare schemes “to promote integrity and responsible citizenship”.

These schemes include Orunodoi, a direct monthly support of ₹1,250 to some 40 lakh women-led households each, old-age pension, and Annadata, a basket of subsidised essentials.

In May, the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Assam government passed the Uniform Civil Code Bill 2026 primarily to ban polygamy and criminalise child marriage. However, indigenous communities were excluded from the purview of this Bill.