33% Seat Reservation for Women in Polls in India

General Studies Paper-2

Context: The Indian government is preparing to implement a 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, aiming for the 2029 general elections.

Constitution (106th Amendment) Act, 2023 (Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam)

• It mandates 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies including Delhi, aiming to enhance female representation in governance.
• Currently, women constitute only about 15% of the Lok Sabha and less than 10% in many state assemblies.
• Key Provisions:
  • The quota extends to seats already reserved for SCs and STs women.
  • The reservation aims to take effect after the next Census and subsequent delimitation exercise, ensuring fair seat allocation.
  • The quota aims to remain in place for 15 years, with the possibility of extension through Parliamentary action.

Concerns and Challenges

• Delayed Implementation: The reservation aims to take effect only after the Census in 2027 and delimitation process.
• Impact of Delimitation: The delimitation process has raised concerns among southern states.
  • Since northern states have experienced higher population growth, they may gain more seats, potentially reducing the political influence of southern states.
• Demand for OBC Sub-Quota: Some political groups advocate for reservation within reservation for OBCs.
  • They argue that without a separate quota, upper-caste women may disproportionately benefit from the policy.
• Rotation of Reserved Seats: The Act mandates that reserved seats aim to be rotated after each delimitation exercise.
  • It could create uncertainty for political parties and candidates, making long-term electoral planning difficult.

Conclusion & Way Ahead

• The Women’s Reservation Act, 2023 aims to empower women, strengthen democracy, and pave the way for more inclusive governance.
• However, addressing concerns related to delimitation, sub-quotas, and implementation delays will be essential to ensure its success.
• The upcoming Census and delimitation process will play a decisive role in determining how soon this vision becomes a reality.