Women's Reservation Bill Amendment Defeated in Lok Sabha: Constitutional and Federal Implications

Livemint - Politics · 21 Apr 2026 · 2 min read
Prelims · Polity Mains · GS2 Polity and constitution High relevance

The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, proposing to delink women's reservation from delimitation and expand Lok Sabha seats, was defeated in Lok Sabha due to lack of two-thirds majority, maintaining the status quo under the 2023 Act.

Key points

Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026 sought to increase Lok Sabha seats from 543 to 850 and implement women's reservation immediately, bypassing the delimitation requirement under the 2023 Act.

The Bill required a two-thirds majority (360 votes) but secured only 298 votes, with 230 MPs opposing it, marking the first legislative defeat for the Modi government since 2014.

Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, 2023 remains in force, mandating 33% women's reservation only after delimitation post the next Census, delaying its implementation indefinitely.

Opposition parties, including Congress and TMC, supported the 2023 Bill but opposed the 2026 amendment, citing federal concerns over delimitation based on the 2011 Census.

[GS2-Federalism] The defeat highlights tensions between central legislative ambitions and regional parties' concerns over representation, particularly from states that controlled population growth.

Delimitation remains a contentious issue, as it would alter seat allocations based on population data, potentially disadvantaging states with successful family planning programs.

The government's failure to pass the Bill underscores the challenges of constitutional amendments requiring broad consensus in a fragmented political landscape.

[GS1-Society] Persistent underrepresentation of women in legislatures (13.6% in Lok Sabha) reflects systemic barriers to gender parity in political participation.

Way Forward: India should decouple women's reservation from delimitation through a standalone constitutional amendment, establish an all-party committee to address federal concerns, and implement interim measures like party quotas to enhance women's political participation.

Key terms

Delimitation

The process of redrawing parliamentary and assembly constituencies based on population data, governed by the Delimitation Commission Act, 2002. It impacts federal balance by altering state-wise seat allocations, with southern states opposing post-2026 delimitation due to penalizing their population control successes.

Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026

A failed amendment proposing to expand Lok Sabha seats to 850 and implement women's reservation without awaiting delimitation. Its defeat underscores Article 368's requirement for special parliamentary majorities and the politics of constitutional change.

Two-thirds Majority

Under Article 368, constitutional amendments require a two-thirds majority of members present and voting in each House, plus ratification by half the state legislatures for certain provisions. This high threshold ensures broad consensus but often leads to legislative gridlock.

Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, 2023

The Women's Reservation Act mandates 33% reservation for women in Lok Sabha and state assemblies, contingent upon delimitation post the next Census. Its constitutional significance lies in advancing gender equality under Articles 14, 15, and 16, though delayed implementation raises questions about substantive representation.