PM Calls Special Session on Women’s Reservation — CLAT GK

CURRENT AFFAIRS | 14 APRIL 2026

CLAT GK + CONSTITUTIONAL LAW & POLITICAL REPRESENTATION

Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared that Parliament is on the verge of “making one of the biggest decisions of the 21st century” as a special three-day session from April 16-18 is scheduled to discuss critical amendments to the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam (Women’s Reservation Act) and a companion Delimitation Bill. The session aims to operationalize the 128th Constitutional Amendment passed unanimously in 2023, which reserves one-third (33%) of seats in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies for women.

The Act’s implementation has been stuck in a constitutional catch-22: it requires delimitation of constituencies based on a Census conducted after the Act’s commencement. With the post-2026 Census now on the horizon, the government is moving to amend the Act and introduce a Delimitation Bill that could reshape India’s political landscape. Through this delimitation process, Lok Sabha seats may increase from 543 to 816 — a transformative expansion of the lower house.

What is the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam?

Passed as the 128th Constitutional Amendment Act in 2023, the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam inserted Article 334A into the Constitution, providing for the reservation of one-third of seats for women in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies. The reservation is to be implemented after delimitation based on the first Census conducted after the Act’s commencement, and will remain in effect for 15 years, with the possibility of extension by Parliament.

The Act built on the foundation laid by the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments (1992), which provided for one-third reservation for women in Panchayats (Article 243D) and Municipalities (Article 243T) respectively. Those amendments transformed grassroots democracy — India now has over 14 lakh elected women representatives in local governance.

The Political Chessboard

While the Act was passed unanimously, its implementation has become politically contentious. The BJP has issued a three-line whip to all its MPs for the special session, signaling its intent to push the amendments through. Congress has also issued a whip but has raised concerns about the delimitation criteria, fearing that a rushed process could disadvantage certain states and communities.

CPP Chairperson Sonia Gandhi expressed displeasure over being “pushed” under what she called a “hurried” process. INDIA bloc parties have flagged concerns about caste census and OBC sub-categorization, arguing that women’s reservation must intersect with social justice. Telangana CM Revanth Reddy accused the government of using the Act as “bait” for electoral gains without genuine commitment to implementation.

The Delimitation Challenge

Delimitation — the redrawing of constituency boundaries based on population data — is the key that unlocks women’s reservation. The last delimitation was done in 2008 based on the 2001 Census. Southern states, which have achieved lower population growth, fear that fresh delimitation based on the post-2026 Census would reduce their parliamentary seats relative to northern states with higher populations. This north-south tension adds another layer of complexity to the special session’s agenda.

Women in Indian Democracy: The Numbers

Despite constituting nearly 49% of India’s population, women hold only about 15% of seats in the current Lok Sabha. In State Assemblies, the figure is even lower — around 9%. In contrast, countries like Rwanda (61%), Sweden (47%), and South Africa (46%) have achieved significantly higher women’s representation. The 33% reservation, once implemented, would make India one of the largest democracies with constitutionally mandated gender representation.

Looking Ahead: 2029 as the Deadline

PM Modi has set 2029 as the target for implementing women’s reservation in elections. If the special session successfully passes the amendment and delimitation bills, the Delimitation Commission would need to redraw all constituencies based on the new Census data — a massive administrative exercise. The 2029 general election could thus become the first in India’s history where one-third of parliamentary constituencies are reserved for women candidates, fundamentally transforming the character of Indian democracy.