Centre Mulls Amendment To Implement 33% Women’s Reservation By 2029

Last Updated:March 10, 2026, 12:05 IST

The move relates to the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, 2023, passed by Parliament in September 2023, which provides one-third reservation for women in Lok Sabha and state assemblies

The Centre is considering a major constitutional amendment to enable the implementation of 33% reservation for women in Parliament and state legislative assemblies ahead of the delimitation exercise, with the aim of rolling it out by the 2029 Lok Sabha elections, government sources said.

The move relates to the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, 2023, passed by Parliament in September 2023, which provides one-third reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies.

However, under the current provisions of the 128th Constitutional Amendment Act, the reservation can only come into force after a fresh delimitation exercise based on the next Census.

Since delimitation is currently frozen until the first Census after 2026, the implementation of women’s reservation could be significantly delayed. In view of this, the government is now exploring the possibility of bringing in an amendment to delink women’s reservation from the delimitation process, allowing it to be implemented earlier.

Sources indicated that discussions within the government are underway on the contours of the amendment, which would allow women to avail the benefit of reservation in the 2029 Lok Sabha elections even if the delimitation process is not completed by then.

The government is also expected to hold consultations with its allies and opposition political parties before moving ahead, as the proposed amendment would require a two-thirds majority in Parliament.

Officials said the next Census exercise is expected to conclude by March 1, 2027, after which the results will be published. Following this, a Delimitation Commission will be constituted to redraw parliamentary and assembly constituencies.

The delimitation exercise itself could take at least two to three years, particularly as the upcoming Census is being digitally recorded, although the process has historically taken three to four years to complete.

Against this backdrop, the proposed amendment is being examined as a way to ensure that the objective of implementing 33% reservation for women in legislatures is achieved by 2029, without waiting for the completion of the delimitation process.

News india Centre Mulls Amendment To Implement 33% Women’s Reservation By 2029

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