What is Women's Reservation Bill (Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam)?
Historical Background
Key Points
8 points- 1.
Amends Article 239AA, Article 330, Article 332, and inserts new Articles 330A, 332A, and 334A.
- 2.
Reserves one-third of seats for women in Lok Sabha, State Legislative Assemblies, and Delhi Assembly.
- 3.
The reservation will come into effect after the next delimitation exercise, following the publication of the next Census.
- 4.
The reservation will be for a period of 15 years from its commencement, and can be extended by Parliament.
- 5.
Seats reserved for women will be allotted by rotation to different constituencies in a state or Union Territory.
- 6.
Reservation also applies to seats reserved for SCs and STs within the 33% quota.
- 7.
Does NOT apply to the Rajya Sabha or State Legislative Councils.
- 8.
Aims to enhance women's political participation and representation in decision-making bodies.
Visual Insights
Evolution of Women's Reservation Bill in India
This timeline traces the long journey of the Women's Reservation Bill, from its initial introduction to its eventual passage and the ongoing discussions regarding its implementation.
The Women's Reservation Bill has been a subject of intense political debate and advocacy for nearly three decades. Its repeated failure to pass highlighted deep divisions, but its passage in 2023 marks a significant milestone, albeit with deferred implementation. Understanding this history is crucial for appreciating the current legislative landscape.
- 1996First Women's Reservation Bill introduced in Lok Sabha by the H.D. Deve Gowda government. Lapsed due to dissolution of Lok Sabha.
- 1998Bill reintroduced by Atal Bihari Vajpayee government. Failed to pass.
- 1999 & 2008Bill reintroduced multiple times, including in Rajya Sabha in 2008. Passed by Rajya Sabha in 2010 but lapsed in Lok Sabha.
- 2010Women's Reservation Bill passed by Rajya Sabha. However, it lapsed as it was not passed by Lok Sabha before its dissolution.
- 2023 (Sept 19)Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam (128th Constitutional Amendment Bill) introduced in Lok Sabha.
- 2023 (Sept 20-21)Bill passed by Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha with near-unanimous support.
- 2023 (Sept 28)Received Presidential assent, becoming the 106th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2023.
- 2024 (April-June)Not effective for the 18th Lok Sabha elections, as implementation is contingent on next Census and delimitation.
- 2025 (Ongoing)Debates continue regarding the timing of the next Census and delimitation, and the demand for a sub-quota for OBC women.
Women's Representation in Indian Parliament: Current vs. Proposed
This dashboard presents key statistics on women's representation in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies, contrasting current figures with the proposed 33% reservation under the 106th Constitutional Amendment Act.
- Women MPs in 18th Lok Sabha (2024)
- 82
- Percentage of Women MPs in 18th Lok Sabha (2024)
- 15.1%
- Average Women MLAs in State Assemblies (2024)
- 9-10%
- Proposed Reservation for Women
- 33%
Number of women elected to the Lok Sabha in the 2024 General Elections. This is a slight increase from previous elections but still far below the proposed quota.
Represents the proportion of women in the lower house of Parliament. India ranks lower than many democracies in this regard.
The average percentage of women members across various State Legislative Assemblies, indicating a similar underrepresentation at the state level.
The target percentage of seats to be reserved for women in Lok Sabha, State Legislative Assemblies, and Delhi Assembly under the 106th CAA.
Recent Developments
4 developmentsPassed by both Houses of Parliament in September 2023 with near-unanimous support.
Received Presidential assent on September 28, 2023.
Its implementation is contingent on the next Census and subsequent delimitation exercise, meaning it will not be effective for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Debates continue regarding the delay in implementation and the exclusion of OBC women from a sub-quota.