Women’s Quota Amendment Bill Fails to Pass in Lok Sabha
Proposal to expand Lok Sabha seats and implement women’s reservation by 2029 falls short of required majority
A key Constitution Amendment Bill aimed at implementing women’s reservation and expanding the strength of the Lok Sabha was defeated in Parliament on Friday after failing to secure the required majority.
Out of 528 members who participated in the voting, 298 MPs supported the Bill while 230 voted against it. However, as a constitutional amendment, it required a two thirds majority of at least 352 votes, leading to its defeat in the Lok Sabha.
The proposed legislation sought to pave the way for 33 percent reservation for women in Parliament and state assemblies ahead of the 2029 general elections. It also included plans to increase the total number of Lok Sabha seats from the current 543 to a maximum of 850.
This expansion was linked to a delimitation exercise based on the 2011 Census, which would redraw constituency boundaries and adjust seat allocation across the country. The move was intended to accommodate the reservation for women without reducing the representation of existing constituencies.
The Bill also proposed similar increases in the number of seats in state and Union Territory assemblies to ensure the implementation of the reservation policy.
Despite strong support from sections of the House, the Bill could not gather enough votes to pass, marking a setback for efforts to introduce women’s reservation through this framework.