The Union Cabinet has approved a draft amendment Bill aimed at operationalising the Women’s Reservation Act in time for the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.
The decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The proposed amendment seeks to revise the implementation framework of the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, formally known as the Constitution (106th Amendment) Act, which was passed in 2023.
Expansion of Lok Sabha Strength
A key provision in the proposal is the expansion of the Lok Sabha from its current strength of 543 seats to 816 seats. This increase will follow a fresh delimitation exercise aimed at redrawing constituency boundaries.
One-Third Reservation for Women
Out of the expanded House, approximately one-third of the seats 273 in total are proposed to be reserved for women. The reservation will also apply within Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) categories, ensuring representation across different social groups.
Delimitation Based on 2011 Census
In a departure from earlier provisions, the government plans to conduct delimitation based on the 2011 Census data, instead of waiting for updated population figures from a future Census.
This move is intended to expedite the implementation of women’s reservation, which under the existing framework was linked to the completion of a new Census and subsequent delimitation exercise.
Next Steps in Parliament
The amendment Bill is expected to be introduced and taken up for discussion during the extended sittings of the Budget Session scheduled from April 16 to April 18.
The proposed changes mark a significant step toward operationalising women’s reservation in Parliament, with implementation targeted ahead of the next general elections in 2029.
