On Tuesday, the government introduced The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-eighth Amendment) Bill, 2023, with the objective of implementing a 33 percent reservation for women in both the Lok Sabha and state Legislative Assemblies. The endeavor to establish such a quota for women has been ongoing since the mid-1990s. In March 2010, the Rajya Sabha passed The Constitution (One Hundred and Eighth Amendment) Bill, 2008; however, the Lok Sabha did not consider this legislation. Even if the newly presented Bill swiftly garners approval from both Houses of Parliament, its practical execution may still encounter delays.
What are the principal provisions of the Bill introduced in the Lok Sabha, and how does it compare to the Bill passed by the Rajya Sabha 13 years ago? According to The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-eighth Amendment) Bill 2023, it proposes that \”approximately one-third of the total seats to be filled by direct election to the House of People shall be reserved for women,\” encompassing seats designated for women from the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
