India calls special session of Parliament to give women 33% quota in legislatures

The Indian Parliament on Thursday introduced three amendment bills to implement the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam Bill, which was passed in 2023.

The Women's Reservation Act will ensure an increase in the number of Lok Sabha seats to 816, of which 273 will be reserved for women.

Discussions were also held around the Delimitation Bill, under which the Centre aims to redraw the boundaries of existing constituencies based on the latest Census figures.

The budget session has been extended for a special three-day sitting from April 16 to 18, where lawmakers are set to discuss the three bills.

India paves way for women's quotas in legislatures

The provision to provide 33 per cent reservation to women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies was brought by amending the Constitution in 2023, but it will come into effect after the completion of the delimitation exercise on the basis of the 2027 Census.

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It is expected to come into force only in 2034 if the present law remains as it is; therefore, the need to amend it for making it enforceable from the 2029 general elections.

While the seats in the Lok Sabha will witness a 50 per cent increase, the opposition parties have expressed concern as this increase will not be on a pro-rata basis for each state. The delimitation exercise, under Article 82 of the Constitution, is linked to the population of a constituency.

What is the Delimitation Bill?

The bill proposes an increase in the number of Lok Sabha seats from 543 to 850, and out of this increased number, 273 (approximately 33 per cent) seats will be reserved for women.

The Opposition has rejected the bill, with many southern states worrying that their seat share could reduce owing to lower population as compared to states in northern India.

"We are not against women’s reservation, but oppose the way the government is bringing the bills. It is politically motivated. We have decided to oppose the delimitation bill,” said Congress Chief Mallikarjun Kharge.

With inputs from agencies