As the Special Session of Parliament convenes to discuss amendments to the Nari Shakti Vandan Act, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has hailed it as a significant move towards empowering women. The session, spanning three days, will focus on proposed Constitutional changes related to the implementation of the Nari Shakti Vandan Act. PM Modi emphasized the importance of respecting women, stating that honoring mothers and sisters is akin to honoring the nation.
The government is set to present three amendment Bills aimed at enacting the legislation passed in 2023, which mandates 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies. Recently, the Central government shared the text of the Constitution (131 Amendment) Bill, 2026 with MPs. This proposed amendment seeks to increase Lok Sabha seats to 850, including members from States and Union Territories.
One key aspect of the Bill is the proposed definition of population, granting Parliament the authority to determine the data used for expanding the number of seats. Additionally, the amendment aims to implement the 33% quota for women in Parliament and State Assemblies before the 2029 general elections, based on the 2011 Census data. The Bill also suggests changes to article 82, introducing a role for the Delimitation Commission in seat allocation.
Ahead of the special session, various political parties, such as the Bharatiya Janata Party, Janata Dal (United), Lok Janshakti Party, and the Congress, have issued a three-line whip to their MPs, instructing them to attend and uphold the party’s stance during the proceedings.
