Women Reservation Bill

The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Eighth Amendment) Bill, 2023, more commonly known as the women's reservation Bill or women's quota Bill, was passed during the special session of the Parliament on September 21, 2023. It seeks to reserve 33% of seats in Lok Sabha and state Assemblies for women, and is the first legislation to be cleared by both Houses in the new Parliament House.

The Bill was passed in the Lok Sabha on September 20 with near unanimity: it received 454 votes in favour and two from the AIMIM against it. Meanwhile, the Bill was passed in the Rajya Sabha unanimously: it secured 214 votes in its favour with none against it, and there were no abstentions.

The Opposition supported the Bill in both Houses, but has demanded an OBC quota within the law and criticised the BJP for concerns over a delay in its implementation. The Union Home Minister Amit Shah assured the Lok Sabha of a “transparent process” to identify seats to be reserved for women. He added that the next government will conduct the census and the delimitation exercise soon after the next general elections in 2024 and set in motion the process to make reservation for women in Lok Sabha and state Assemblies a reality.

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WOMEN RESERVATION BILL NEWS

The court said that Alka Lamba, with numerous other protestors, can be seen lying on the road/public way for quite a while obstructing it.

Delhi court orders charges against congress leader Alka Lamba over Jantar Mantar protest

December 21, 2025 10:40 am

ACJM Ashwani Panwar said that the act of Lamba clearly showed that the police officials were obstructed in performing their duties, were pushed before jumping the barricades during the protest, showing use of criminal force and assault.

Polling, West Bengal, Darjeeling, Raiganj, Balurghat, Lok Sabha polls,

Where are the women in India’s political parties?

June 27, 2025 4:21 pm

Now that the government has announced the next Census and indicated that women’s reservation is likely to be implemented in the 2029 Lok Sabha election, one wonders what parties are doing to build a steady supply of powerful and influential women leaders in the run-up

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Making room for women in politics demands a new political imagination

June 07, 2024 11:54 pm

Women are not just voters or beneficiaries. For greater representation in politics, they must be reimagined as leaders and decision makers

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Delhi HC refuses to hear PIL on women quota law

December 19, 2023 8:02 am

After some arguments, the petitioner’s counsel sought to withdraw the plea and was granted liberty to approach the top court.

In first elections after quota Bill passed, number of women MLAs drops in Rajasthan Assembly

December 06, 2023 3:29 pm

The new House has 20 women MLAs or 10% of total -- with 9 each from BJP and Congress, and 1 Independent. Since 2008, the number of women MLAs has dropped in every election

In September this year, the 128th Constitutional Amendment Bill, which seeks to reserve one-third of the total number of seats in the state legislative assemblies and Lok Sabha for women, was passed with near-unanimous support.

On Women’s Reservation Bill, one step forward, two steps back

November 13, 2023 11:25 am

The remarkable achievement of the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam is let down by its reliance on the delimitation process

Women’s Reservation Bill: After passing, challenge now to ensure promise translates to equality

October 23, 2023 9:17 am

Women aspiring to be MPs need to engage with local issues and facilitate local solutions to local problems. This will provide them with a sense of confidence and commitment

Nivedita Menon writes: Behind the sudden support for women’s reservation, an ethical crisis of the political class

October 18, 2023 9:29 am

An immediate reservation of one-third of the existing seats for women, is likely to benefit largely those women who already have the cultural and political capital to contest elections, and these are bound to be elite women. How else to understand the BJP’s determined opposition to the Mandal Commission reservations for OBCs and its equally fervent support for women’s reservations?

India is ready for the simultaneous pursuit of justice, equality, excellence. Indians should create a glide path to reach 100 years of Independence with 100 per cent reservation for 100 per cent of its people.

Best of both sides | Manish Sabharwal writes: Bihar caste survey is a cynical attempt to expand reservation — India needs a different approach

October 13, 2023 1:45 pm

Reservation is a valuable tool but India is ready for something more universal, for the simultaneous pursuit of justice, equality, excellence

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Focus on female voter is reassuring. But sensitive politics is needed

October 06, 2023 11:08 pm

There is a need to draw upon lessons learnt from other areas of social justice to ensure that the idea of representation and empowerment leads to a shared consensus, and does not become a tug of war that pulls women down rather than setting them free

WOMEN RESERVATION BILL PHOTOS

Women’s reservation Bill gets Parliament nod: How the events unfolded

September 22, 2023 3:04 pm

Addressing women at the BJP central office on Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the passage of the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Eighth Amendment) Bill, 2023, seeking to reserve 33% of seats in Lok Sabha and state Assemblies for women.