PM Modi To Speak On Women's Reservation Bill In Parliament Today

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to address the Lok Sabha today at 3:00 pm. The Prime Minister will provide a comprehensive roadmap for the Constitution (One Hundred and Thirty-First Amendment) Bill, 2026, marking a decisive move to operationalise the long-awaited women's reservation law.

Speaking at the commencement of a three-day special session, the Prime Minister characterised the proceedings as a "historic step" towards gender parity. "The respect for our mothers and sisters is the respect for the nation," he remarked, underlining the government's resolve to fortify the role of women in the country's legislative framework.

The special session, running from 16 to 18 April, aims to fast-track the implementation of the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam. To ensure that the one-third reservation for women does not diminish the representation of other groups, the government has proposed a significant expansion of the Lower House.

Key features of the proposed transition include:

Increased Strength: Expanding the Lok Sabha from 543 seats to a maximum of 850 seats.

State Allocation: Up to 815 seats are earmarked for states, with 35 allocated to Union Territories.

The 2029 Timeline: The changes are slated to take effect from the 2029 General Election.

Delimitation Dynamics: A Delimitation Commission will finalise the boundaries and specific seats reserved for women, likely using the 2011 Census as the primary reference point.

High Drama in the House: Shah vs Venugopal

The introduction of the legislative package-which includes the Delimitation Bill and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill-was met with fierce resistance from the Opposition.

According to a report in ANI, senior Congress leader KC Venugopal launched a scathing critique, labelling the Bills a "fundamental attack on the Indian federal structure." He questioned the government's motives, arguing that while Parliament had previously agreed on the 33 per cent principle, the current mechanism for implementation raised serious concerns regarding the rights of states.

The Union Home Minister, Amit Shah, was quick to mount a counter-offensive. Intervening with characteristic firmness, Shah asserted that parliamentary procedure limits Opposition objections to technical grounds during the introductory stage of a Bill.

"We will provide a crushing reply to these concerns during the formal debate," Shah told the House, dismissing the Opposition's attempt to debate the merits of the legislation prematurely.

As Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal moves the landmark amendment, the treasury benches appear determined to push through the reforms. While the government views this as the ultimate empowerment of Indian women, the Opposition remains wary of the underlying structural changes to the Republic's electoral map.

With inputs from agencies