Page 18 - NIS ENGLISH 1-15 May, 2026

New India and
Women-led
Leadership
Cover Story

A Journey of 3 Decades
A Commitment to

Swift Implementation

n In 1975, a committee constituted to examine the status of
women in India noted and commented upon the declining
representation of women.
n The National Perspective Plan of 1981 also recommended a
30% reservation for women across all governing bodies.
n Although the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments were
enacted, the initiative for women's reservation in the Lok Sabha
and State Legislative Assemblies failed to progress.
n The very first bill for women's reservation, introduced as the
81st Constitutional Amendment Bill, was tabled on September
12, 1996, during the tenure of H.D. Deve Gowda's government.
It was referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee; however,
by the time the committee's report was submitted, the 11th Lok
Sabha had dissolved, causing the bill to lapse.
n On the second occasion, on December 14, 1998, during the
government led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the bill was introduced
as the 84th Constitutional Amendment Bill; however, this
effort, too, came to an end with the dissolution of the 12th
Lok Sabha.
n For the third time, again under Atal Bihari Vajpayee's introduced in the Lok Sabha during a specially convened
government, the 85th Constitutional Amendment Bill was session. 454 votes were cast in favour of the bill, while only 2
introduced on December 23, 1999; however, the bill failed to votes were cast against it.
advance due to a lack of consensus among political parties. n On September 20, 2023, the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam,
n The fourth attempt was made under the government led by Dr 2023, was introduced in the Rajya Sabha and passed with 214
Manmohan Singh, when the 108th Constitutional Amendment votes, without any opposition.
Bill was introduced in the Rajya Sabha on May 6, 2008, and n On September 28, 2023, President Droupadi Murmu signed
subsequently referred to a Standing Committee. Following the the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, 2023, following which it
submission of the committee's report, the bill was passed by became law.
the Rajya Sabha on March 9, 2010, amidst considerable uproar. n From April 16 to 18, 2026, during a special session of Parliament,
It was then sent to the Lok Sabha; however, the bill lapsed as the 131st Constitution Amendment Bill 2026, the Delimitation
soon as the Lok Sabha was dissolved on May 18, 2014. Bill 2026, and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill 2026
n Under the current government, on September 18, 2023, the were introduced. The government demonstrated its commitment;
Union Cabinet approved the 'Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, however, the votes required to secure the two-thirds support
2023' (Women's Reservation Bill). necessary for the Constitution Amendment Bill were not
n On September 19, 2023, the 'Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, obtained. Consequently, the realisation of the 33% reservation
2023' (the 128th Constitutional Amendment Bill) was for women could not be expedited.

However, technical hurdles were causing delays in the actual succeeded in making history, it nonetheless served as a
implementation of this legislation on the ground. Conse- powerful testament to the resolve and commitment of
quently, the Central Government decided to amend the law; the Central Government—led by Prime Minister Narendra
it convened a special session of Parliament from April 16 to Modi—in its mission to empower Nari Shakti. Amending
18 and introduced proposals to incorporate the necessary the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam was a prerequisite for
amendments to the legislation passed in September 2023. ensuring that women's reservation could be effectively
implemented on the ground, starting with the 2029 general
A SPECIAL SESSION REFLECTING A elections. Driven by this very commitment, the Central
COMMITMENT TO RESOLVE Government convened the special parliamentary session
While this special session of Parliament may not have and introduced the requisite legislative bill. Furthermore,
Prime Minister Narendra Modi undertook this initiative

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