The central government is preparing to move forward with the implementation of the Women’s Reservation Act, with plans to base the rollout on the 2011 census instead of waiting for a fresh census and delimitation exercise. This marks a significant shift from the original framework of the law, which had tied its implementation to future population data and boundary redrawing.
Under the proposed plan, the total strength of the Lok Sabha would be expanded from 543 to 816 seats, with 273 of these reserved for women. This would effectively ensure one-third representation for women in Parliament, representing a major step toward increasing female participation in legislative decision-making.
Sources indicate that the government is aiming to act quickly and may introduce a Bill during the ongoing Budget session to amend the existing law and enable early implementation. There has also been preliminary outreach to opposition parties, suggesting an effort to build consensus and ensure the smooth passage of the required constitutional amendment.
The Women’s Reservation Act, passed in 2023, already mandates a 33 percent reservation for women in both the Lok Sabha and state assemblies. However, its implementation has been delayed because it is currently linked to a delimitation process that would take place after the first census conducted following the law’s enactment.
To bypass this condition and proceed based on the 2011 census, Parliament would need to amend the relevant provisions of the Act, particularly those tying reservation to delimitation. Since this involves a constitutional change, it would require approval under Article 368(2), meaning it must be passed by a majority of the total membership in both Houses, along with a two-thirds majority of members present and voting.
The ruling party does not currently have sufficient numbers on its own in either House to secure passage, making opposition support essential. In this context, calls have already been made for broader discussions, including a proposed all-party meeting to deliberate on the roadmap and implementation strategy for the legislation.
