New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called for the immediate implementation of the Women’s Reservation Act, urging that the 2029 Lok Sabha and Assembly elections be conducted with the quota for women in place. In a letter to the floor leaders of both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, Modi emphasized that the time has come to implement the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, the law ensuring 33% reservation for women.
The Prime Minister’s call comes ahead of a special three-day session of Parliament, scheduled from April 16 to 18, where the government aims to pass amendments to fast-track the law’s enforcement. The current provision, which reserves one-third of Lok Sabha and Assembly seats for women, was introduced by amending the Constitution in 2023. However, the quota was initially set to take effect only after a delimitation exercise based on the 2027 Census, potentially delaying its implementation until 2034.
To implement the quota for the 2029 elections, the government is seeking immediate changes to the law. If passed, the amendment will increase the number of Lok Sabha seats to 816, with 273 seats reserved for women.
