Women's Reservation: Government's 'U-turn' Fails in LS, Delay in 2023 Act Questioned
The issue of 33% women's reservation in Lok Sabha and State legislatures has come full circle, with the government's attempt to operationalize it immediately failing. The Constitution (106th Amendment) Act, 2023 (Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam) mandated a three-step process involving a fresh Census and delimitation before implementation. The government's 2026 Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, which sought immediate implementation based on the 2011 census, failed to pass. The Opposition continues to demand the removal of the Census and delimitation requirement from Article 334A(1) for immediate implementation, highlighting the persistent delay.
Key Points
- The 33% women's reservation issue remains unresolved due to the failure of the 2026 Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill.
- The Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam (106th Amendment Act, 2023) requires a fresh Census and delimitation for its operationalization.
- The government's attempt to bypass these steps for immediate implementation using the 2011 census figures failed in the Lok Sabha.
- The Opposition advocates for removing the Census and delimitation clauses from Article 334A(1) to expedite women's reservation.
- The government operationalized the 106th Amendment Act on April 16, amidst debates on the 131st Amendment, raising questions about its timing.
Exam Facts
- Constitution (106th Amendment) Act, 2023 is also known as Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam.
- Clause (1) of Article 334A of the 106th Amendment mandates a three-step process (Act into force, fresh Census, delimitation).
- The proposed 2026 Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill sought to amend Article 334.
- The latest published census figures available are from 2011.
- The 106th Amendment Act was operationalised on April 16.
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