India Amends Women's Reservation Act

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is spearheading efforts to amend the Women's Reservation Act, officially known as the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, to ensure its implementation before the 2029 India — Lok Sabha elections and state assembly polls. The Union Cabinet, chaired by Narendra Modi, has cleared draft bills for these amendments, which include tweaking the Adhiniyam and amending the Delimitation Act. These changes aim to advance the timeline for the 33% reservation for women in the India — Lok Sabha and state assemblies, which was previously tied to the 2027 Census and would have delayed implementation until 2034. The amendments propose redrawing constituencies based on the 2011 Census and increasing the number of India — Lok Sabha seats from 543 to 816, with 273 seats reserved for women. Narendra Modi has urged all Members of Parliament, across party lines, to support this move, emphasizing that it reflects the aspirations of millions of women across India and is crucial for strengthening the country's democracy and commitment to equality.