Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday called for a broad political consensus to implement women’s reservation in legislative bodies, describing it as a “need of the hour” to strengthen India’s democracy and ensure greater inclusiveness.
In a signed article, the Prime Minister said the proposed amendments to the Women Reservation Act go beyond a legislative exercise and reflect the aspirations of millions of women across the country.
“To describe this merely as a legislative exercise would be an understatement. It is a reflection of the aspirations of crores of women across India,” Narendra Modi said, urging Members of Parliament to come together to support the measure.
Parliament is scheduled to convene for a special sitting from April 16 to 18 to deliberate on the proposed amendments to the ‘Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam’, aimed at enabling the implementation of 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies from the 2029 elections.
The reservation provision was enacted through a constitutional amendment in 2023, but its implementation is currently linked to a delimitation exercise following the next Census. At present, it is expected to come into force only by 2034, prompting the need for legislative changes to advance its rollout.
The Prime Minister said the upcoming deliberations represent a “historic occasion” to deepen democratic foundations and reaffirm the country’s commitment to equality.
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“It is imperative that the 2029 Lok Sabha elections and assembly polls are conducted with women’s reservation in place,” he said.
Highlighting the role of women in nation-building, Narendra Modi said they constitute nearly half of India’s population and have made significant contributions across sectors, from science and entrepreneurship to sports and the armed forces.
He noted that sustained efforts in areas such as education, healthcare and financial inclusion have improved women’s participation in economic and social life, but their representation in politics remains inadequate.
“Yet, their representation in the world of politics and legislative bodies has not always been commensurate with their role in society,” he said, adding that women’s participation in governance enriches public discourse and improves decision-making.
The proposed framework indicates that the number of Lok Sabha seats could increase from 543 to 816, with around 273 seats reserved for women, including provisions for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes on a proportional basis.
The Prime Minister also underlined that previous attempts by successive governments to enact women’s reservation had not materialised, despite broad consensus on the need for greater representation.
“This is a moment that cannot be deferred any longer,” he said, warning that any delay would undermine efforts to strengthen the quality and inclusiveness of democracy.
Calling for unity, he said India has consistently demonstrated the ability to rise above differences on issues of national importance and urged all parties to support the measure in the larger national interest.
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