Polygamy in India 2025: Full Ban List, Laws & Latest Data

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Polygamy in India is one of the most debated topics at the intersection of religion, gender rights, and constitutional law. While the practice is declining rapidly, it remains legally permitted for Muslim men under personal law — a provision that has come under increasing scrutiny. In 2025, state governments are taking decisive action, with Assam becoming the second state after Uttarakhand to completely ban polygamy. Here’s everything you need to know about the current status, laws, prevalence, and future of polygamy in India.

How Polygamy Is Regulated in India (Religion-Wise)

India does not have a Uniform Civil Code, so marriage laws depend on religion:

Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, and Buddhists Governed by the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 → Strict monogamy. A second marriage while the first spouse is alive is void and punishable with up to 7 years imprisonment under Section 82 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Christians Indian Christian Marriage Act, 1872 → Bigamy is prohibited; no marriage can be registered if either party is already married.
Parsis Parsi Marriage and Divorce Act, 1936 → Polygamy explicitly banned.
Muslims Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Application Act, 1937 → A man is allowed up to four wives at a time, provided he treats them equitably. Because the second, third, or fourth marriage is legally valid under personal law, the criminal provisions of BNS do not apply.

This religious exception has been the focal point of the Uniform Civil Code debate for decades.

State-Level Bans: The New Reality in 2025

Assam Prohibition of Polygamy Bill, 2025

Passed on 27 November 2025, this is one of the toughest anti-polygamy laws in the country:

Applies to all residents of Assam (including Muslims)
Up to 7 years imprisonment + fine for entering a polygamous marriage
Up to 10 years if the first marriage was concealed
Cognisable and non-bailable offence
Clerics (Qazis) and family members who facilitate such marriages can face up to 2 years in jail
Convicted persons barred from government jobs, elections, and state benefits
Exemptions: Scheduled Tribes and Sixth Schedule autonomous areas

Uttarakhand Uniform Civil Code, 2024

Already in force, Uttarakhand became the first state to implement a full UCC:

Polygamy banned for every resident, regardless of religion
First condition of marriage: “Neither party has a living spouse”
Tribal communities exempted

Goa – The Original Exception

Goa follows the Portuguese Civil Code of 1867:

Marriage is a civil contract with compulsory registration
Monogamy mandatory for all communities, including Muslims
An old clause allowing Hindu men a second wife under very specific conditions (no male child by age 30) exists on paper but has been unused for over a century

Is Polygamy Really Common? Latest Data (NFHS-5, 2019-21)

Despite perceptions, polygamy is rare and declining fast:

National average: Only 1.4% of married women live in polygynous unions
Down from 1.9% in 2005–06 and 1.6% in 2015–16
Highest among Scheduled Tribes (2.4%)
Muslims: 1.9% (lower than Christians at 2.1%)
Hindus: 1.3%
Highest state rates: Meghalaya (6.1%), parts of Northeast, and some tribal pockets
Lowest: Southern and Western states (below 1%)

Education and urbanisation are the biggest factors driving the decline — women with higher education have near-zero rates of polygynous marriages.

Why States Can Ban Polygamy (Even for Muslims)

The Supreme Court has repeatedly ruled that polygamy is not an essential or integral part of any religion, including Islam. Practices that conflict with public order, morality, or gender equality can be regulated or banned by the state (Article 25). Courts have also struck down attempts to convert to Islam solely to take a second wife, calling it fraudulent.

The Road to Uniform Civil Code

With Uttarakhand and Assam leading the way, several other states are preparing similar legislation:

Gujarat submitted its UCC draft in 2025 and is likely to table a bill soon
Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Haryana have publicly expressed intent

These state-level UCCs uniformly ban polygamy, impose compulsory marriage registration, equal inheritance rights, and raise the minimum marriage age — all while protecting tribal customary laws.