Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal introduced the Women's Reservation Bill in the Lok Sabha on 19 September 2023. There is a provision in this bill that women will get 33 percent reservation in Lok Sabha, Delhi Assembly and Legislative Assemblies of all the states. That means one-third seats will be reserved for women. After this historical change, women's participation in active politics will increase.
What is the name of the bill introduced for women's reservation?
The name of the bill introduced for women's reservation is '128th Constitutional Amendment Bill 2023', which the Modi government has named 'Nari Shakti Vandan Bill'.
This bill states that 'as far as possible one-third of the seats' in the Lok Sabha, the Legislative Assemblies of all the states and the Legislative Assembly of the National Capital Territory of Delhi will be reserved for women. That means if there are 543 seats in the Lok Sabha, then 181 of these seats will be reserved for women. Only women candidates will be able to contest elections on these seats.
What is the Women's Reservation Bill?
This is the bill for the 85th amendment of the Constitution. Under this, a provision has been made for reservation of 33 percent seats for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies. Out of this 33 percent, one-third seats are to be reserved for women belonging to Scheduled Castes and Tribes. The limit of this bill will be 15 years and later it can also be extended.
This bill has been pending for 27 years
The Women's Reservation Bill was first introduced in Parliament in 1996. At that time the HD Deve Gowda government had introduced this bill in the Parliament on 12 September 1996. But it could not be passed. This bill was introduced as the 81st Constitutional Amendment Bill. After this the bill was introduced in 1998, 1999 and 2008. In 2008, 5 out of 7 recommendations of the committee were included in the bill. The last action on this issue was taken in 2010. But due to opposition from some MPs, this bill could not be passed in the Lok Sabha.