Government Considers a Special Parliament Session to Pass the Women's Reservation Amendment Bill
According to a report, the Union government is considering calling a special session of Parliament to pass a constitutional amendment bill on women's reservation.
The aim is to bring into effect one-third reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies, which was approved in 2023 but has not started yet.
Under the 2023 law, the quota can begin only after a fresh census and a delimitation (redrawing of constituencies) based on it.
An earlier attempt failed. On 17 April 2026, during a special session (16 to 18 April), the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026 got 298 votes in favour and 230 against in the Lok Sabha. This was short of the two-thirds of members present and voting that a constitutional amendment needs.
That bill linked the women's quota to an increase in Lok Sabha seats to 850 and a fresh delimitation. Many members supported the quota itself but opposed the delimitation part. After the defeat, the government withdrew the related Delimitation Bill, 2026 and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026.
The Women's Reservation Act, 2023 (106th Constitutional Amendment)
The Women's Reservation Act, 2023 reserves one-third of the seats in the Lok Sabha, every State Legislative Assembly and the Delhi Legislative Assembly for women. Its official name is the Constitution (One Hundred and Sixth Amendment) Act, 2023, also called the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam. The reservation does not start at once: it begins only after a census and a delimitation exercise based on that census.
Because of Article 334A, the quota is tied to a census and delimitation that have not yet happened. A new amendment is needed to change this timeline, which is why the government is considering a special session.
Delimitation in India (Articles 82 and 170)
Delimitation means fixing how many seats each state gets in the Lok Sabha and its Legislative Assembly, and drawing the boundaries of each constituency. The aim is that each elected member represents roughly the same number of people. An independent Delimitation Commission does the job, and its orders cannot be challenged in court.
The April 2026 bill failed mainly because it bundled the women's quota with a new delimitation and a bigger Lok Sabha. Whether the new bill keeps or removes this link will decide how much support it gets.
Constitutional Amendment Procedure: Article 368
Article 368, in Part XX of the Constitution, lays down how the Constitution can be changed. Most important provisions need a special majority in each House of Parliament. Some provisions that affect the states also need approval from at least half of the state legislatures.
The April 2026 bill got 298 votes against 230, well short of two-thirds of those voting, so it failed. Any new women's quota amendment will again need a special majority in both Houses, so the government needs wide support across the House.
- Women's Reservation Act: Constitution (106th Amendment) Act, 2023; Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam
- Articles: 330A (Lok Sabha), 332A (State Assemblies), 334A (start and 15-year duration), 239AA (Delhi)
- Assent: 28 September 2023
- Failed bill: Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026; defeated in Lok Sabha on 17 April 2026 (298 for, 230 against)
- That bill proposed raising Lok Sabha strength to 850 (from 543)
- Special majority (Article 368): majority of total membership + two-thirds of members present and voting; no joint sitting
- Delimitation freeze: 42nd Amendment (1976), extended by 84th Amendment (2001) until the first census after 2026
- Census 2027 reference date: 1 March 2027