Page 17 - NIS ENGLISH 1-15 May, 2026

New India and
Women-led
Leadership
Cover Story
‘Nari Shakti Vandan Empowered Participation
Adhiniyam’ in Decision-Making

seats in the Lok Sabha 1.45 million elected women
and State Assemblies will
representatives in Panchayati
33% be reserved for women Raj institutions.
Members of Parliament
(MPs), starting from the n This constitutes approx 46 % of the total
2029 elections representatives a unique example globally.
n This serves as a testament
According to the with 815 MPs representing to women's strong
provisions, the Lok the states and
Sabha was to comprise participation in
850 the Union to an empowered
a total of 35 MPs representing decision-making and
seats Territories. democracy. In India
today, women are
n The remaining seats were left unreserved, allowing either a man or a no longer merely
woman to contest elections for them. beneficiaries;
n Reservation for Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) they are active
was also adjusted in proportion to the increased number of seats, partners
rising to 205 seats, up from the previous figure of 131. in policy
formulation.
n A model involving a uniform distribution of seats across all states,
based on a 50% increase, was adopted.
n Criteria were established for the state-wise allocation of additional Growing
seats to ensure that no state suffered a loss in its seat count based Enthusiasm for Women’s
on its population. Participation in Politics
n The seats are to remain reserved for a period of 15 years from the n 1st Lok Sabha: 22 Women Members
date of implementation—a duration that Parliament may choose n 6th Lok Sabha: 19 Women Members
to extend if deemed appropriate. The bill providing 33 percent
reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative n 8th Lok Sabha: 44 Women Members
Assemblies was passed on September 21–22, 2023. It became law
on September 29, following the president's assent. n 14th Lok Sabha: 51 Women Members
n The law enacted in September 2023 was formally notified by the n 17th Lok Sabha: 78 Women Members
central government on April 16, 2026. n 18th Lok Sabha: 75 Women Members

their rights. The Central Government has reiterated its
We have not made any changes commitment that, unlike in the past, women's represen-
tation in politics will no longer remain merely symbolic;
to the Delimitation Commission rather, the government remains steadfastly committed to
Act; we have repeated the existing transforming the rightful representation of half the popula-
Act exactly, down to the full stops tion into a tangible reality. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s
and commas. I cannot comment resolve transformed the decades-long dream of reserving
on whether this act may have seats for women in the legislature into reality. A bill that
been utilised for any form of had languished for years—often stalled under the pretext
manipulation in the past. However, of awaiting a political consensus—was effortlessly enacted
into law during a special session of Parliament in September
the current government has made 2023, thanks to the Central Government’s bold decision,
no such attempt. unwavering determination, and sincere initiative. This paved
the way for a 33 percent reservation of seats for women in
Amit Shah, Union Home Minister both the Lok Sabha and the State Legislative Assemblies.

May 01-15, 2026 || NEW INDIA SAMACHAR 15