New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday, April 16, 2026, characterized the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill as a landmark legislation that would redefine India’s parliamentary democracy by ensuring 33% reservation for women. Addressing the Lok Sabha during a three-day special sitting, the Prime Minister urged all political parties to transcend partisan interests and embrace this “historic opportunity” to empower half of India’s population in the decision-making process. The legislative package, which includes the Delimitation Bill and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, aims to operationalize the women’s quota by the 2029 general elections, extending its reach to Delhi, Puducherry, and Jammu and Kashmir.
The Prime Minister’s push for the amendment centers on expanding the Lok Sabha’s strength from 543 to a maximum of 850 seats. This expansion is designed to facilitate the immediate implementation of the women’s quota by using 2011 Census data as the baseline for a fresh delimitation exercise, rather than waiting for the results of the upcoming 2027 Census. Modi emphasized that the rise of millions of women leaders through Panchayati Raj institutions over the last three decades has created a politically conscious vanguard that now demands a legitimate voice in higher legislative bodies. He framed the move as an essential step toward “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas,” arguing that a developed India is impossible without the active participation of women in policy formulation.
The introduction of the Bills followed a contentious division of votes in the Lok Sabha, where the government secured 251 votes in favor against 185 from the Opposition. While the INDIA bloc has expressed support for women’s reservation, it has vehemently opposed the delimitation provisions, labeling them a “power grab” and a “devious agenda” that could marginalize Southern states. Prime Minister Modi sought to allay these fears, assuring the House that no injustice would be done to any state and that the reform belongs collectively to the entire Parliament. He noted that women voters have historically held those who oppose such rights accountable, cautioning that resistance to the current framework could carry significant long-term political consequences.
