The core of the 108th Constitutional Amendment Bill was to introduce a reservation for women, mandating that one-third of all seats in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies would be reserved for women.

This reservation was not meant to be permanent but was proposed to be implemented for a period of 15 years from the date of commencement of the Act, after which its effectiveness would be reviewed.

The bill proposed that the reserved seats would be allocated by rotation to different constituencies in such a manner as the President of India may by order specify, ensuring that the reservation is spread across various regions over time.

The 'rotation' mechanism was crucial. It meant that a constituency reserved for women in one election might not be reserved in the next, allowing for broader political participation and preventing the creation of 'safe' seats that might become stagnant.

It also stipulated that the reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) would continue to be provided separately, meaning women from SC/ST communities would get reservation within the overall women's quota, and also within the SC/ST quotas.

The bill aimed to address the systemic barriers women face in politics, such as lack of funding, social prejudice, and limited access to political networks, by ensuring a minimum presence.

If passed, it would have significantly altered the composition of legislative bodies, potentially leading to more gender-sensitive legislation and policies.

The bill proposed that one-third of the seats to be filled by direct election in the Legislative Council of every State (where it exists) would also be reserved for women.

The bill was introduced as a constitutional amendment, meaning it required a special majority in both houses of Parliament to be passed, reflecting its significance in altering the fundamental structure of political representation.

A key aspect tested by UPSC is the mechanism of rotation for constituencies, which ensures that the reservation is not static and benefits different areas over time, preventing entrenched interests.

The bill's lapse with the dissolution of the Lok Sabha is a critical point for exams, highlighting the challenges of passing such significant legislation, especially when it requires broad consensus.

The proposed 15-year duration is important as it suggests a temporary measure to kickstart change, rather than a permanent fixture, allowing for adaptation based on outcomes.

The bill's interaction with existing reservations for SC/ST is a common exam question, testing the understanding that women's reservation would operate alongside, and not instead of, these existing quotas.

The core of the 108th Constitutional Amendment Bill was to introduce a reservation for women, mandating that one-third of all seats in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies would be reserved for women.

This reservation was not meant to be permanent but was proposed to be implemented for a period of 15 years from the date of commencement of the Act, after which its effectiveness would be reviewed.

The bill proposed that the reserved seats would be allocated by rotation to different constituencies in such a manner as the President of India may by order specify, ensuring that the reservation is spread across various regions over time.

The 'rotation' mechanism was crucial. It meant that a constituency reserved for women in one election might not be reserved in the next, allowing for broader political participation and preventing the creation of 'safe' seats that might become stagnant.

It also stipulated that the reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) would continue to be provided separately, meaning women from SC/ST communities would get reservation within the overall women's quota, and also within the SC/ST quotas.

The bill aimed to address the systemic barriers women face in politics, such as lack of funding, social prejudice, and limited access to political networks, by ensuring a minimum presence.

If passed, it would have significantly altered the composition of legislative bodies, potentially leading to more gender-sensitive legislation and policies.

The bill proposed that one-third of the seats to be filled by direct election in the Legislative Council of every State (where it exists) would also be reserved for women.

The bill was introduced as a constitutional amendment, meaning it required a special majority in both houses of Parliament to be passed, reflecting its significance in altering the fundamental structure of political representation.

A key aspect tested by UPSC is the mechanism of rotation for constituencies, which ensures that the reservation is not static and benefits different areas over time, preventing entrenched interests.

The bill's lapse with the dissolution of the Lok Sabha is a critical point for exams, highlighting the challenges of passing such significant legislation, especially when it requires broad consensus.

The proposed 15-year duration is important as it suggests a temporary measure to kickstart change, rather than a permanent fixture, allowing for adaptation based on outcomes.

The bill's interaction with existing reservations for SC/ST is a common exam question, testing the understanding that women's reservation would operate alongside, and not instead of, these existing quotas.