Polygamy in India: What it is, where it exists, and its legal status

• Polygamy involves marrying more than one partner; polygyny (man with multiple wives) is more common in India than polyandry (woman with multiple husbands).
• Hindu, Christian, and Sikh laws prohibit polygamy, making it illegal under the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955.
• Muslim Personal Law permits Muslim men to marry up to four women, though reforms are being demanded.
• Prevalence of polygamy has decreased to 1.4% but persists in some tribal communities in Northeast India and polyandry in parts of the Himalayan region.
• Uttarakhand implemented UCC banning polygamy; Assam government also plans to ban it, citing women's rights and exploitation concerns.