Women's Reservation Bill Faces Political Hurdles Again in India
7 Setbacks In 30 Years: Women’s Reservation, The Hurdles & Politics Explained
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The Women's Reservation Bill, aimed at reserving 33% of seats for women in India's Lok Sabha and state assemblies, has failed to secure the necessary majority in Parliament for the seventh time since its inception in the 1990s. Political opposition and demands for sub-quotas have hindered its passage.
- 01The Women's Reservation Bill has been introduced seven times since 1996, failing each time due to political opposition and procedural hurdles.
- 02The latest attempt on April 17, 2026, fell short of the required two-thirds majority in the Lok Sabha.
- 03Current female representation in Parliament is low, with only about 14% of Lok Sabha and 17% of Rajya Sabha members being women.
- 04The bill's implementation is contingent on a new census and delimitation, which has drawn criticism as an election tactic.
- 05Opposition parties demand a sub-quota for OBC and minority women within the proposed reservation.
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The Women's Reservation Bill, which seeks to reserve 33% of seats for women in India's Lok Sabha and state assemblies, has faced significant political challenges since its first introduction in 1996. The latest attempt on April 17, 2026, failed to secure the necessary 352 votes, garnering only 298. This bill has been introduced seven times, with the first successful passage occurring in the Rajya Sabha in 2010, but it never made it to the Lok Sabha due to political maneuvering. Currently, women's representation in Parliament stands at about 14% in the Lok Sabha and 17% in the Rajya Sabha, highlighting the persistent underrepresentation of women in Indian politics. The government argues that the bill would reflect population changes through seat delimitation, a process that has sparked accusations from the opposition of being an electoral gimmick. Opposition parties, including the Congress, support women's reservation but oppose linking it to delimitation and demand a sub-quota for OBC and minority women.
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The failure of the Women's Reservation Bill means continued underrepresentation of women in Indian politics, affecting policy decisions and representation for women in governance.
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