Government Moves to Implement Women's Reservation Bill Based on 2011 Census
Introduction to the Women's Reservation Bill
The central government, led by the BJP, is gearing up to implement the Women's Reservation Bill, which is set to be based on the 2011 census. Under the proposed framework, the total number of Lok Sabha seats will increase from 543 to 816, with 273 seats specifically reserved for women. The original legislation stipulated that the reservation would only take effect following a new census and delimitation process. However, sources indicate that the government is eager to expedite the process, aiming to amend the law during the current budget session and introduce a bill to enhance women's representation in the lower house of Parliament. This increase will result in a 50% rise in total Lok Sabha seats, with 33% of the newly added seats allocated for women.
Efforts for Broad Support
Initial discussions with opposition parties suggest that there is an effort to garner widespread support for the smooth passage of the constitutional amendment. Officials are optimistic that the bill could be presented in the Rajya Sabha as early as next week, following cabinet approval. The Women's Reservation Bill, passed in 2023, provides for 33% reservation for women in both the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, but its implementation has been stalled due to pending delimitation processes. If the government seeks to implement the reservation before delimitation, another constitutional amendment will be necessary. This would require amending Section 5 of the Act, which currently ties women's reservation to the delimitation following the first census after the law comes into effect.
Constitutional Amendment Requirements
As a constitutional change, approval under Article 368(2) necessitates a majority of total members in both houses, along with at least a two-thirds majority of those present and voting. The BJP, which holds 240 seats in the Lok Sabha and 103 in the Rajya Sabha, lacks sufficient numbers to pass the amendment without support from opposition parties. Recently, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge requested a multi-party meeting with Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju to discuss the "implementation strategies and action plan" for the Women's Reservation Bill.