Parliament Session Focuses on Women's Reservation and Delimitation Bills
The current parliamentary session, running from April 16 to 18, is centered around crucial legislation such as the Women's Reservation Bill and the Delimitation Bill. Home Minister Amit Shah has confirmed the commencement of a caste-based census while addressing opposition concerns. The session has seen significant debates, with the NDA holding a majority. Newly elected members, including BJP's Nitin Naveen, have also taken their oaths in the Rajya Sabha. This session is pivotal for shaping future policies regarding representation and electoral boundaries.
Apr 16, 2026, 12:17 IST
Ongoing Parliamentary Session Discusses Key Legislation
A three-day parliamentary session is currently underway from April 16 to 18. The government has introduced several significant bills, including the Women's Reservation Bill, the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, the Union Territory Laws (Amendment) Bill, and the Delimitation Bill in the Lok Sabha. The debate commenced with Central Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal leading the discussions. The NDA holds 292 seats, while the opposition has 233, making the need for a two-thirds majority a focal point of this session.
Government's Stance on Census and Reservation
Home Minister Amit Shah addressed questions from the opposition, stating that the census process has begun, which includes the collection of caste data. He assured the house that the government has decided to conduct a caste-based census. Responding to opposition comments, he emphasized that any demand for reservation based on religion is unconstitutional, reiterating that the Constitution does not permit quotas based on religious grounds.
Debate on Legislative Proposals
Central Home Minister Amit Shah remarked that KC Venugopal cannot comment on the merits of the bills and can only raise technical objections upon their introduction. Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal proposed the introduction of the 'Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill 2026' related to the Women's Reservation Act and the 'Delimitation Bill, 2026'. Congress leader KC Venugopal criticized the amendments to the Women's Reservation Law and the bill to form the Delimitation Commission as 'anti-constitutional'.
New Members Take Oath in Rajya Sabha
Meanwhile, Nitin Naveen, the National President of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), took the oath of office in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday alongside other newly elected members. After the session commenced, Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan administered the oath to the new members. Nitin Naveen took his oath in Hindi, receiving a warm welcome from fellow members who applauded him. He will represent Bihar in the upper house, and Chairman Radhakrishnan congratulated him and the other members who took their oaths.