New Delhi: The Union government is reportedly preparing to implement 33% reservation for women in Parliament and state legislatures by the 2029 general elections. According to senior government sources, the Centre is considering introducing a fresh constitutional move to ensure that the long-awaited quota becomes a reality in time for the next Lok Sabha polls.
The proposal is linked to the landmark Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, aimed at increasing women’s representation in law-making bodies across India. Under the existing provisions, the reservation would come into effect only after the completion of the national census and the subsequent delimitation of constituencies. However, since the delimitation process could take several years, there are concerns that the implementation might be delayed.
To avoid such delays, the government is exploring the possibility of bringing the reservation into force even before the delimitation exercise is completed. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju is expected to introduce the related proposal during a parliamentary session. Opposition parties have earlier demanded that women’s reservation should not be postponed, and political observers believe the proposal could receive broad support across parties if formally introduced.
