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Women's Reservation Bill Defeated in Lok Sabha, Delayed Until 2029

The Lok Sabha has voted against the Constitution Amendment Bill aimed at implementing women's reservation starting from the 2029 general elections. The bill failed to secure the required two-thirds majority, with 298 votes in favor and 230 against. Opposition parties objected to the delay until 2029 and criticized the linked Delimitation Bill, demanding immediate implementation under the current parliamentary structure. Following the defeat, the government stated it would not pursue the two other related bills.

Key Points: Lok Sabha Rejects Women's Reservation Bill for 2029 Implementation

  • Bill defeated 298-230
  • Requires 2/3 majority for passage
  • Opposition demands immediate implementation
  • Government drops two related bills
2 min read

Lok Sabha votes against Constitution Amendment Bill aimed at implementing women's reservation from 2029 general elections

The Constitution Amendment Bill to implement women's reservation from 2029 fails in Lok Sabha, falling short of the required two-thirds majority.

"The Constitution (131st Amendment) Amendment Bill did not pass as it did not achieve a 2/3 majority during voting in the House. - Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla"

New Delhi, April 17

The Constitution Amendment Bill for the implementation of Women's Reservation from the 2029 general elections was defeated in the Lok Sabha on Friday, with the opposition parties voting against it

A Constitution Amendment Bill is passed if it gets the support of not less than two-thirds of the members present and voting.

In the division that took place following the debate on the three bills, 298 members supported the bill while 230 voted against it.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla announced the results of the division.

"The Constitution (131st Amendment) Amendment Bill did not pass as it did not achieve a 2/3 majority during voting in the House," he said.

Lok Sabha on Friday resumed discussion on the Constitution (One Hundred and Thirty-First Amendment) Bill, 2026, the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026, and the Delimitation Bill, 2026.

After the Lok Sabha did not pass the Constitution Amendment Bill, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said the government had no intention to pursue the two other bills.

While motions for the introduction of Constitution Amendment Bills are adopted by simple majority, a majority of the total membership of the House and a majority of not less than two-thirds of the members present and voting is required for adoption of effective clauses and motions for consideration and passing of these Bills.

Constitution Amendment Bills affecting vital issues as enlisted in the proviso to article 368(2) of the Constitution after having been passed by the Houses of Parliament, have also to be ratified by not less than one-half of the State Legislatures.

Earlier, Home Minister Amit Shah replied to the marathon debate on three bills.

He slammed the opposition parties over their stance on the bills to implement women's reservation from the 2029 general elections and said that when they fight the next elections, they will face the wrath of women.

Opposition parties strongly objected to the Delimitation Bill and said the government should implement women's reservation immediately in the existing strength of the Lok Sabha. They expressed their full support for women's reservation.

In his speech during the debate, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi slammed the government over the Delimitation Bill and said it has "nothing to do with the empowerment of women" and is an "attempt to change the electoral map of India. Nearly 130 members took part in the debate.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

R
Rahul R
The opposition is right on this one. The bill is linked to delimitation, which will take years. If the government was serious, they would have found a way to implement it in the current Lok Sabha structure. This is just an excuse for delay.
A
Amit G
A constitutional amendment needs broad consensus. If the bill was defeated, it means the opposition did not support the *method* of implementation. The principle of women's reservation is not in doubt. The process must be correct and fair for all states.
S
Sarah B
As an observer, it's fascinating yet frustrating. The debate seems more about political one-upmanship than about getting more women into Parliament. Both sides need to come together for this. Indian women deserve better than this stalemate.
K
Karthik V
Delimitation is a necessary exercise for fair representation based on population. Clubbing it with women's reservation has complicated the issue. Maybe they should be dealt with separately? But again, any further delay is a setback for gender equality in our democracy.
M
Meera T
Shameful. All parties claim to support women, but when it comes to actually passing the law, they find reasons to block it. We need more women in the House to pass laws that actually matter to half the population. This is a lost opportunity. 🙏

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