Centre Plans 33% Women Reservation in Lok Sabha, Assemblies Before 2029 Election

Centre Plans 33% Women Reservation in Lok Sabha, Assemblies Before 2029 Election

Last Updated Jun - 12 - 2025, 03:26 PM | Source : Fela News

Ahead of 2029 polls, Centre aims to implement 33% reservation for women in Lok Sabha and state assemblies, tied to 2027 census and delimitation, under Nari Shak

In a significant political development, the central government is preparing to implement 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies ahead of the 2029 general elections. Sources reveal that the move is aligned with the Women’s Reservation Bill, formally known as the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, passed in 2023. However, the implementation depends on the nationwide census and subsequent delimitation exercise, both scheduled in the coming years.

The government has announced that the next population census will be conducted in two phases, starting in October 2026 for snow-bound regions like Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, and 2027 for the rest of the country. For the first time, this census will include caste data, and the findings will be used for a fresh delimitation process. Delimitation, which involves redrawing constituency boundaries based on population shifts, is crucial for the women’s quota rollout as mandated by the legislation.

While the Centre projects this as a move towards women empowerment, the delimitation aspect has sparked controversy. Southern states like Tamil Nadu and Kerala have raised concerns that their parliamentary representation may shrink due to slower population growth compared to northern states like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Experts estimate a potential gain of 31 seats for the northern belt and a loss of around 26 for the south. As political debates intensify, the Centre remains focused on pushing forward the long-pending quota reform that was first proposed in 1996, promising a more inclusive and representative future in Indian politics.

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