Women Reservation Act 2023: What You Need to Know About Its Implementation Timeline

Women Reservation Act Comes Into Effect

New Delhi: The Women Reservation Act 2023, which allocates a 33% quota for women in legislative bodies, officially took effect on Thursday, as confirmed by a notification from the Union Law Ministry.

However, the rationale behind the act's notification effective from April 16 remains unclear, especially as discussions are ongoing in Parliament regarding amendments for its implementation in 2029.

An official mentioned 'technicalities' as the reason for the law's activation but did not provide further details. Despite the act being in effect, the current legislative assembly cannot implement the reservation, according to the official.

The actual implementation of the women's reservation will follow a delimitation process based on the upcoming census, the official added.

The notification stated: 'In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (2) of section 1 of the Constitution (One Hundred and Sixth Amendment) Act, 2023, the Central Government hereby appoints the 16th day of April, 2026 as the date on which the provisions of the said Act shall come into force.'

In September 2023, the Parliament enacted the 'Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam', widely recognized as the Women’s Reservation Act, marking a pivotal advancement in women's representation within legislative frameworks.

This legislation mandates that one-third of the seats in both the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies be reserved for women.

According to the 2023 law, the reservation will not be enforceable until 2034, as it is contingent upon the completion of the delimitation process following the 2027 Census.

Currently, three bills are under discussion in the Lok Sabha, introduced by the government to facilitate the women's quota by 2029.