A three-day special sitting of the extended Budget session of Parliament will commence on Thursday, focusing on proposed Constitutional amendments related to the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam. The government plans to introduce three amendment Bills to implement the legislation passed in 2023, offering 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies.
The Central government has shared the text of the Constitution (131 Amendment) Bill, 2026, with MPs this week. This proposed amendment to the Women Reservation Bill aims to increase Lok Sabha seats to 850, including members from States and Union Territories. The Bill suggests a cap of 815 on the number of members directly elected from constituencies in the States, with provisions for Union Territories as well.
Another significant amendment in the Bill pertains to defining population, granting Parliament the authority to determine the data for expanding the number of seats. The Union Cabinet has approved the Bill to amend the Constitution for the early implementation of the 33% quota for women in Lok Sabha and Assemblies, along with augmenting the lower house’s seats.
The proposed amendment seeks to disconnect the quota’s implementation from the 2027 Census, aligning it with the 2011 Census for rollout before the 2029 general elections. It also introduces a role for the Delimitation Commission in Article 82, emphasizing the allocation of seats based on census data. Various political parties have issued a three-line whip to their MPs, including the BJP, JD(U), LJP, and Congress, ensuring their presence and adherence to party positions during the session.
