33% Reservation for Women in Indian Parliament: Change Begins in 2029

The long-awaited Women's Reservation Bill has finally become law in India, promising to reshape the political landscape by reserving one-third of seats in Parliament and state assemblies for women. However, its implementation is not immediate. The quota will come into force only after the 2026 census and subsequent delimitation, making the 2029 Lok Sabha elections the earliest possible point of execution. Here's a detailed look at what this means for Indian democracy.

What Is the Women’s Reservation Bill?

Officially titled the Constitution (Amendment) Act, 2023, the bill mandates 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha (the Lower House of Parliament) and all state legislative assemblies. It is officially titled the Constitution (One Hundred and Sixth Amendment) Act, 2023, also popularly called the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam. The reservation applies to both general and reserved (SC/ST) categories and aims to promote gender equality and political empowerment of women in India, where they are significantly underrepresented.

What the Law Does

In September 2023, both Houses of Parliament approved the 106th Amendment to the Constitution, which requires:

• Women are granted a 33% reservation in the State Legislative Assemblies and the Lok Sabha, the lower house.

• SC/ST quotas that include reservations.

• After it is put into place, the reservation will be in place for 15 years.

This legislation represents a significant turning point in India's progress toward gender equality and seeks to empower women politically by guaranteeing increased participation in governance and lawmaking.

How Was the Bill Passed?

The bill was introduced in a special session of Parliament in September 2023 and passed with near-unanimous support:

• Lok Sabha: 454 in favor, 2 against

• Rajya Sabha: 214 in favor, 0 againstIt received the President’s assent on September 28, 2023, and became law the same day.

When will it be implemented?

Despite becoming law, the bill's implementation is conditional on two crucial steps:

1. Census: The bill mandates the use of data from the first census conducted after 2026.

2. Delimitation: A redrawing of constituency boundaries based on the census data must follow.

Due to these conditions:

• The 2024 Lok Sabha elections will proceed without reservation.

• The next general elections in 2029 are the earliest point at which the quota could be applied.

Impact and Significance

Just 14% of MPs in the Lok Sabha are currently female. With this law, women's representation could be tripled, putting India on par with countries like South Africa (45%), Sweden (46%), and Rwanda (61%).

Key expected outcomes:

• Greater gender balance in policymaking

• More focus on issues like health, education, and women's safety

• Increased participation of women in electoral politics

Why This Matters?

• India currently has less than 15% women MPs in the Lok Sabha.

• With this law, India joins over 100 countries with some form of gender reservation or quota in political systems.

• It is expected to boost women’s representation significantly, policy focus on gender-sensitive issues, and long-term social empowerment.

Conclusion

The 33% reservation for women in India’s Parliament marks an important step toward gender-inclusive governance. 2029 is the earliest possible, but not guaranteed, timeline because its implementation is still dependent on census and delimitation procedures, despite being legally passed and widely celebrated.For now, the country closely monitors the progress of preparations, anticipating the day when women will make up one-third of its legislative voices, changing representation and policy for future generations.