Women’s Reservation Bill (Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam) Passed but Unimplemented – Status, Challenges and Exam Relevance
According to the IPU report released to mark 30 years of the Beijing Declaration, global women’s representation in national legislatures rose from 11.3% to 27.2% (1995‑2025). In the same period, India’s share moved from 7.2% to 13.8%, still less than half the world average. The Women’s Reservation Bill (now the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam) has been passed unanimously but remains dormant.
Key Developments (1995‑2025)
- 1995‑2025: Global women’s parliamentary share doubles to 27.2% (IPU).
- 1995‑2025: India’s share climbs to 13.8% – still far below the global average.
- 1996, 1998, 1999, 2008: Four attempts to amend the Constitution for women’s reservation lapse with Lok Sabha dissolutions.
- 2021: National Federation of Indian Women files a PIL for re‑introduction of the bill.
- September 2023: 106th Constitutional Amendment (Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam) passed unanimously in both Houses.
- 2024‑2026: Implementation delayed; law awaits delimitation linked to the forthcoming Census.
Important Facts
- Reservation quota: 33% of Lok Sabha and state assembly seats for women.
- SC/ST sub‑quota: One‑third of seats reserved for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes must be filled by women from those communities.
- OBC omission: No reservation for Other Backward Classes women within the 33% quota – a point of criticism.
- Women candidates (2014 Lok Sabha): Only 8.1% of 8,251 candidates were women; the highest share were independents, indicating party reluctance.
- Women ministers (2023 WEF): Less than 7% of cabinet positions held by women.
- Local bodies: 73rd & 74th Amendments guarantee 33% women’s reservation in panchayats/municipalities, yet many elected