Congress Leader Urges All-Party Meeting on Women's Reservation Bill Amendments
Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge has formally requested an all-party meeting to discuss proposed amendments to the Nari Vandan Act, 2023. He emphasizes the importance of women's representation in Parliament and suggests that the government should provide detailed proposals ahead of the meeting. With plans to increase Lok Sabha seats significantly, the discussion aims to address the implications of linking women's reservation to census data. The government is pushing for timely action without waiting for the new census, which has sparked ongoing negotiations among opposition parties regarding seat distribution and delimitation. This meeting is crucial for shaping the future of women's representation in Indian politics.
| Mar 24, 2026, 17:11 IST
Call for Discussion on Proposed Amendments
Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge has reached out to Union Law and Justice Minister Kiren Rijiju, requesting the government to convene an all-party meeting to discuss the proposed amendments to the Nari Vandan Act, 2023. In his letter, Kharge highlighted that the government is planning to introduce another amendment to the constitutional changes passed in September 2023. He emphasized the need for all opposition parties to reiterate their demand for a meeting to deliberate on the proposed changes.
Kharge suggested that to make the meeting productive, the government should issue a detailed note outlining the proposals. He also requested that this meeting be scheduled after the current round of assembly elections concludes on April 29, 2026. According to high-level sources, the government intends to implement two significant amendments. The 2023 Nari Shakti Vandan Act linked women's reservation to the new census and delimitation, but due to delays in the census, the plan is to proceed based on the 2011 census data. The delimitation and seat redistribution will also rely on the 2011 census figures, potentially increasing the Lok Sabha seats from 543 to 816.
A bill will be introduced in Parliament to amend the Nari Shakti Vandan Act, along with a separate delimitation bill. Both bills must be passed as constitutional amendments to ensure women's reservation. The new Lok Sabha is expected to have over 800 seats, with approximately one-third, or 273 seats, reserved for women. The government's primary argument is that they will not wait for the new census to provide adequate representation for women, who make up half of the country's population. Instead, delimitation will be based on the 2011 census data. The Home Minister chaired a crucial meeting with NDA parliamentary leaders to discuss amendments to the Nari Shakti Vandan Act, where he informed several opposition leaders about the proposed plan. While the opposition supports women's reservation, discussions are ongoing to reach a consensus on seat distribution and delimitation.