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The Union government has reiterated its firm commitment to implementing the landmark Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, the historic law that mandates 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies. The Centre has indicated that the provisions of the Act are likely to be implemented by the time of the 2029 Indian general election, potentially reshaping gender representation in Indian politics.

Informal Consultations on Faster Implementation

According to government sources, discussions have begun on exploring options to expedite the implementation of the Act. Informal consultations are reportedly underway with Opposition parties and allies to examine the possibility of amendments to the 2023 legislation.

The women’s reservation law was passed during a special session of Parliament in 2023. However, its implementation is tied to the completion of the next national census and the subsequent delimitation of parliamentary constituencies. Officials suggest that the government is evaluating mechanisms that could allow women beneficiaries to take advantage of the quota as early as the next Lok Sabha elections.

A Major Step Toward Gender Representation

The Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam is considered a transformative reform aimed at improving women’s participation in the country’s legislative bodies. Once implemented, the law will reserve one-third of seats in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies exclusively for women.

If the reservation is applied to the 543-member Lok Sabha, the number of women MPs could rise to around 181 seats, significantly increasing female representation in national decision-making.

Women Still Underrepresented in Politics

Data from the Association for Democratic Reforms and National Election Watch highlights the extent of gender imbalance in Indian politics. Out of 4,666 MPs and MLAs across the country, only 464 are women, accounting for roughly 10 per cent.

In the current Lok Sabha, there are only 78 women MPs out of 543 seats, which amounts to about 14.36 per cent representation.

A New Chapter for Inclusive Democracy

The implementation of the women’s reservation law is widely seen as a crucial step toward strengthening inclusive democracy in India. Political analysts believe the quota will encourage more women to enter electoral politics, create opportunities for grassroots female leaders, and enhance their role in shaping policy and governance.

The government’s renewed push signals growing political will to address long-standing gender disparities in representation and could mark a significant milestone in India’s parliamentary history.

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The Supreme Court issued a landmark warning about the persistent gender inequality in India, requesting the Centre and state governments to provide answers on the implementation of a 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies within four weeks. The bench, consisting of Justices B.V. Nagarathna and R. Mahadevan, called women “the biggest minority”, almost 48% of the population, and asked the question of why such equity depends on reservation at all, while at the same time it was investigating the government’s timeline for the census and delimitation.

The focus is on the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, the historic 106th Constitutional Amendment of September 2023, which was celebrated as a breakthrough for the reservation of one-third of seats in Parliament, Delhi’s assembly, and all state legislatures. However, its implementation is waiting for a new census and the redrawing of boundaries, thus causing courts to be flooded with petitions like the one from Congress leader Jaya Thakur, who expresses her disbelief at the fact that, after 75 years of independence, women still have to approach the judiciary to claim their rights in a democracy.

The march towards equity is being held up by several corollary issues. According to the Ministry of Women and Child Development’s report of July, the number of women candidates has risen gradually from a paltry 3% in the 1957 election to 10% in 2024. Women MPs in the Lok Sabha increased from 22 in the first House to 75 in the 18th (14% of the total), whereas the number of female members in the Rajya Sabha rose from 15 in 1952 to 42 nowadays (17%). The report points out that this achievement is the result of a “whole-of-government, whole-of-society” effort which places women’s empowerment at the centre.

While answers are awaited, the question remains: Will the administrative steps cause delays in participation, or will they lead to a more courageous, far-reaching horizon? On this pivot of ballots and benches, what would be your next move?

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