Polity & Governance GS 2 In the news 5 times

Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026

The Failed Attempt to Unlock Reservation

Three interlinked bills were introduced in Lok Sabha on April 16, 2026: the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026; the Delimitation Bill, 2026; and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026. The 131st Amendment Bill proposed to increase Lok Sabha strength from 543 to 850 seats and carry out delimitation based on the 2011 Census (rather than waiting for the upcoming 2027 Census), which would have enabled women's reservation to activate sooner. The bill was defeated on April 17, 2026, receiving only 298 votes in favour against the required two-thirds majority of approximately 352 votes.

Key details

A constitutional amendment bill requires a special majority: two-thirds of members present and voting AND more than half the total membership of the House (Article 368).
298 votes for, 230 against — the bill fell short by approximately 54 votes.
After the 131st Amendment Bill's defeat, the linked Delimitation Bill and UT Laws Amendment Bill were also withdrawn.
The defeat meant the census-delimitation prerequisite in Article 334A remains in place, keeping women's reservation in abeyance until at least after the 2027 Census and a subsequent delimitation exercise.

In the news

● Tracked since April 14, 2026 · last seen April 30, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes

30 Apr '26

Chhattisgarh Assembly Passes Resolution Urging Women's Quota Implementation

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17 Apr '26

Constitution Amendment Bill: Part of Delimitation Package — Defeated in Lok Sabha

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16 Apr '26

Law Minister Tables Three Bills: Women's Quota to 2029, Lok Sabha Expands to 815 Seats

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16 Apr '26