Special Parliamentary Session Announced for April 2026 to Discuss Women's Reservation Bill

Government Calls for a Special Parliamentary Session

The central government has scheduled a three-day special session of Parliament from April 16 to 18, 2026. Recognizing the significance of this session, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has issued a 'three-line whip' to all its Members of Parliament (MPs) in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. This directive mandates that all MPs and central ministers must be present in the House during these three days.

Key Agenda: Expansion of Lok Sabha Seats

The primary focus of this special session will be to amend the Women's Reservation Bill (Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam). The government's objective is to implement this reservation before the general elections in 2029.

According to reports, there is a proposal to increase the total number of Lok Sabha seats from the current 543 to 816. Out of these additional seats, approximately 273 (one-third of the total) may be reserved for women. To expedite the implementation of this reservation, the government plans to conduct delimitation based on the 2011 census data, rather than waiting for the 2027 census.

Strict Instructions for MPs

In a message to its MPs, the party has made it clear that no leaves will be granted during the session. MPs are expected to strictly adhere to the whip and remain present in the House throughout the discussions. The central cabinet has already approved these proposals, which will now be presented in Parliament for legislative action.

Opposition's Response

On the other hand, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has written to the Prime Minister, urging the convening of an all-party meeting before the session. The opposition claims that the government has called this session without consulting them. MP Shashi Tharoor has also expressed concerns that taking significant steps like delimitation without proper deliberation could disrupt the democratic balance among states. Nevertheless, the government appears fully prepared to implement this historic legislation by 2029.