Union Cabinet clears amendments to roll out 33% women’s quota by 2029 polls

The Union Cabinet led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday cleared amendments to current laws in order to enable a rollout of the much-delayed 33% women’s reservation by the 2029 Lok Sabha election.

Two Bills are expected to be cleared for the purpose -- the first to amend a provision in the 2023 Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, which says one-third seats for women in Lok Sabha and state assemblies can be reserved only after the delimitation process following the 2026 census.

The second Bill will need to amend the 84th Constitution amendment which freezes the delimitation in India until 2026.

Now to enable an early delimitation process the government will need to end this freeze.

The government plans to raise seats in the Lok Sabha and state Assemblies by 50% each and provide reservation for women on the enhanced strength of the legislative chambers.

The women’s quota Bill has been hanging fire since the 1990s.

In 2023, it was the first legislative agenda to be passed by the MPs unanimously in the new Parliament building.