Women's Reservation Act takes effect amid implementation debate

New Delhi: India's Women's Reservation Act 2023, guaranteeing 33% of legislative seats for women, has been enacted, sparking debate over its immediate implementation and future impact on political representation.

The Women's Reservation Act 2023, ensuring 33% quota for women in legislatures, has officially come into force. Immediate implementation of the women's quota is not possible due to the need for a delimitation exercise based on the next census.

Parliament is currently debating amendments to the Women's Reservation Act to potentially enable implementation by 2029. The Act, also known as the 'Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam', aims to enhance women's representation in the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies.

The Women Reservation Act 2023, which gave 33 percent quota to women in legislatures, came into force on Thursday, according to a notification issued by the Union law ministry.

It is, however, not immediately known why the 2023 act was notified with effect from April 16, in the midst of the debate in Parliament to amend the same law for its implementation in 2029.
 
An official cited "technicalities" for bringing the law into force without elaborating. Though the act has come into force, the reservation cannot be implemented in the current House, the official said.

Reservation for women can be implemented after carrying out a delimitation exercise on the basis of the next census, the official said.

The notification read: "In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (2) of section 1 of the Constitution (One Hundred and Sixth Amendment) Act, 2023, the Central Government hereby appoints the 16th day of April, 2026 as the date on which the provisions of the said Act shall come into force."

In September 2023, Parliament passed the 'Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam', commonly known as the Women's Reservation Act, in a significant step towards enhancing women's representation in legislative bodies.

The act provided for the reservation of one-third of seats for women in Lok Sabha and state legislative Assemblies.

Under the 2023 law, the reservation would not become enforceable before 2034, as it was tied to the completion of the delimitation exercise post 2027 Census.

The three bills currently debated in Lok Sabha were brought in by the government so that the women quota could be implemented in 2029.