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Women's Reservation Bill: Lok Sabha Seats to Rise to 815 with 272 for Women

Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal opened the Lok Sabha discussion on Bills related to women's reservation and delimitation, invoking the visions of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. He confirmed the implementation of a 33% quota for women, which will see the Lok Sabha's strength rise to 815 seats with 272 reserved for women. The minister assured that this increase would not cause any state or male MPs to lose their existing seat strength. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju stated an extended discussion would be held, with voting scheduled for Friday.

Key Points: Women's Reservation Bill: 272 Seats, No State Loss, Says Meghwal

  • 33% quota for women in legislatures
  • Lok Sabha strength to increase by 50% to 815 seats
  • 272 seats reserved for women
  • No loss of seats for any state or male MPs
2 min read

Women's Reservation Amendment ensures equality, no states will be harmed, says Meghwal in LS

Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal details the Women's Reservation Bill in LS, confirming 815 total seats with 272 for women and no loss to any state.

"The allocation of 33 per cent of seats is certain to happen... that time has arrived now. - Arjun Ram Meghwal"

New Delhi, April 16

Union Minister of State for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal on Thursday opened the discussion in the Lok Sabha on the set of Bills related to women's reservation and delimitation, asserting that the Constitution Bill, 2026, will play a crucial role in ensuring gender equality.

Addressing the House, Meghwal invoked the vision of Dr B.R. Ambedkar to underline the importance of women's empowerment.

"I assess a community's advancement by the level of progress made by women," he said, citing Ambedkar while advocating for the reservation of seats for women in legislative bodies.

He also referred to former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam's views on the issue, highlighting that the move had long been anticipated.

"The allocation of 33 per cent of seats is certain to happen. It's simply a matter of time, Abdul Kalam indicated then, and that time has arrived now," Meghwal said, while commending Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership for taking what he described as a "historic step".

Outlining key provisions, the minister stated that the number of Lok Sabha seats would see a significant increase. He said that the strength of the House would rise by 50 per cent, taking the total number of seats to 815, with 272 of them reserved for women, in line with the one-third quota.

"The Women's Reservation Bill was passed in 2023, providing for the implementation of its provisions based on the census after 2026 and delimitation. There will be a 50 per cent increase in the strength of Lok Sabha members, translating to 815 seats, of which 272 will be reserved for women, which comes to one-third of the strength of the House. There will be no loss to male MPs or any state, and they will retain their strength," he added.

Earlier, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju informed the Lok Sabha that an extended discussion would be held on the three crucial Bills related to women's reservation and delimitation, with voting scheduled for Friday.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
While the intent is good, I'm concerned about the implementation. The bill was passed in 2023 but will only be implemented after the 2026 census? That's a long wait. Also, increasing Lok Sabha seats to 815 sounds like it will make the house unwieldy. Hope the process is smooth and doesn't get delayed further.
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Ananya R
Finally! My mother always said that if more women were in charge, policies would be more practical and compassionate. This isn't just about numbers; it's about bringing diverse perspectives to the table. Hope this leads to more focus on education, healthcare, and safety for women and children. 💪
V
Vikram M
Good move, but the proof will be in the pudding. Reservation alone won't guarantee effective leadership. Parties must field capable women candidates, not just relatives of male politicians. Also, glad to hear no state will lose seats – that was a major concern for many.
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Sarah B
As an observer from abroad, it's inspiring to see India take such a decisive step towards gender parity in its highest legislative body. The reference to both Ambedkar and Kalam shows a thoughtful connection to India's modern founding ideals. A historic step indeed.
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Karthik V
The assurance that "no states will be harmed" is crucial for maintaining federal harmony. The delimitation exercise based on the 2026 census will be tricky. Hope it's done fairly, respecting population changes while also protecting the interests of smaller states. Jai Hind!

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