Centre considers implementing 33% Women's Reservation before delimitation exercise: Report

New Delhi: The Union government is exploring a possibility to implement the Women's Reservation Act even before waiting for the completion of the post-census delimitation exercise for Lok Sabha and Assembly constituencies.
 
The Central government has started informal consultations with Opposition leaders to discuss the matter regarding amending the Women's Reservation Bill

What is the current law?

The Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniya 2023, which was passed by the Parliament in September 2023, provides one-third reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies. 

It ties the reservation of 33 per cent  seats for women in legislatures to the completion of the next Census and subsequent delimitation exercise.

The provision to provide 33 per cent reservation to women in the Lok Sabha and state Assemblies was brought by amending the Constitution, but it will come into effect after the completion of the delimitation exercise. 

What if the law is implemented?

If the proposal to implement the law even before the delimitation exercise actually materialises, another amendment to the Constitution will be required. 

The Union government has started informal consultations with Opposition leaders to discuss the matter regarding implementation of the women quota without waiting for the delimitation exercise.

Why the law can't be implemented now?

The reservation, under the current provisions of the 128th Constitutional Amendment Act, can only come into force after a fresh delimitation exercise based on the next Census.

The implementation of women’s reservation could be significantly delayed since delimitation is currently frozen until the first Census after 2026. 

Du to this, the government is now exploring the possibility of bringing in an amendment to delink women’s reservation from the delimitation process, allowing it to be implemented earlier.