Time has come to implement Women's Reservation Act: PM Modi's letter to LS, RS floor leaders

Vartha Bharati | 12-04-2026 | 10:45:00 IST

Prime Minister Narendra Modi (PTI)

New Delhi (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that the time has come for the implementation of the Women's Reservation Act in its true spirit and the 2029 Lok Sabha elections and Assembly elections are conducted with the quota for women in place.

In a letter to the floor leaders of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, ahead of the three-day special sittings of Parliament, Modi also asked all members to come together in one voice to pass the amendments to the women's reservation law, officially known as Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam.

"After extensive deliberations, we have reached the conclusion that the time has now come to implement the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam in its true spirit across the country.

"It is imperative that the 2029 Lok Sabha elections and Assembly elections are conducted with women's reservation in place," the Prime Minister said in his letter dated April 11.

The Budget Session of Parliament has been extended, and a special three-day sitting of the House has been convened on April 16 to 18.

The Women's Reservation Act will ensure an increase in the number of Lok Sabha seats to 816, of which 273 will be reserved for women.

The provision to provide 33 per cent reservation to women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies was brought by amending the Constitution in 2023.

However, the women's quota would have come into effect only after the completion of the delimitation exercise on the basis of the 2027 Census. This meant the reservation would not have become enforceable before 2034 if the present law remains as is.

To implement it from the 2029 Lok Sabha elections, changes were needed in the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam; hence, the government is holding a special session to pass the amendments to the law.

Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.

'Devious intentions': O'Brien attacks govt ahead of Parliament sitting on women's quota, delimitatio

12-04-2026 ¦ 12-04-2026 IST

Trinamool Congress leader Derek O'Brien (PTI)

New Delhi (PTI): Trinamool Congress leader in Rajya Sabha Derek O'Brien on Saturday launched a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah, accusing them of "mocking Parliament" and indulging in political theatrics ahead of the upcoming elections.

His remarks come against the backdrop of a special three-day sitting of Parliament scheduled from April 16 to 18, during which the government is expected to take up legislation related to the implementation of women's reservation in legislatures, and also delimitation to increase the number of seats in Lok Sabha to enforce the quota.

"Amit and Narendra, this is not the Gujarat Gymkhana Club. Stop mocking Parliament and the people of our nation," O'Brien said in a statement.

"Stop the drama and stunts before Bengal and Tamil Nadu elections. Your intentions are devious," the Rajya Sabha MP said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday wrote to floor leaders of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, urging them to support the amendments to the women's reservation law during the special three-day session of Parliament.

"...the time has now come to implement the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam in its true spirit across the country. It is imperative that the 2029 Lok Sabha elections and Assembly elections are conducted with women's reservation in place," the Prime Minister said in his letter.

The Union Cabinet has cleared draft bills to operationalise the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam ahead of the 2029 Lok Sabha elections. The proposed changes include increasing the strength of the Lok Sabha from 543 to 816 seats, with 273 seats reserved for women.

The legislative package is expected to include a Constitution amendment bill to modify provisions of the Act, alongside amendments to the Delimitation Act to enable redrawing of constituencies in line with the expanded House strength.

Another bill is also likely to extend the implementation of the reservation framework to Union Territories with legislatures, including Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir and Puducherry.