Historic Presidential Assent to Women’s Reservation Bill

1. Presidential : President Droupadi Murmu has granted her assent to the Women’s Reservation Bill, marking a significant milestone in Indian politics. This bill aims to provide 33% reservation for women in both the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies.
2. Renaming the Amendment : Originally introduced as the Constitution (128th) Amendment Bill in the Lok Sabha, it will now be known as the Constitution (106th Amendment) Act due to certain pending constitutional amendments yet to be passed by Parliament.
3. Effective Date Pending : The bill’s implementation date is yet to be determined by the Central government through an official gazette notification. It will come into force at the government’s discretion.
4. Special Parliamentary Session : During a special session of Parliament, Prime Minister Narendra Modi referred to this legislation as the “Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam.” It received near-unanimous support in the Lok Sabha and unanimous approval in the Rajya Sabha.
5. Census and Delimitation Awaited : The law’s enforcement hinges on the next census and subsequent delimitation exercise, which will redraw Lok Sabha and Assembly constituencies to allocate seats reserved for women. This reservation will remain in effect for 15 years, with the potential for Parliament to extend the period. While a quota within a quota exists for Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) women, there have been calls to extend this benefit to Other Backward Classes (OBC). This bill, originally introduced in 1996, has experienced numerous twists and turns in its journey, including its passage in the Rajya Sabha in 2010 but not making it to the Lok Sabha due to lack of consensus and insufficient support during the Congress-led UPA era. Currently, women MPs make up nearly 15% of the Lok Sabha, while their representation remains below 10% in many State Assemblies.

Key  features of the Women’s Reservation Bill:

1. 33% Reservation: The bill seeks to provide a 33% reservation for women in both the Lok Sabha (the lower house of Parliament) and State Legislative Assemblies across India.
2. Renaming of Constitutional Amendment : Originally introduced as the Constitution (128th) Amendment Bill, it is now known as the Constitution (106th Amendment) Act, reflecting its historical significance.
3. Pending Implementation Date : The bill’s effective date will be determined by the Central government through an official gazette notification. It will come into force at the government’s discretion.
4. Special Parliamentary Session : During a special session of Parliament, Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the legislation as the “Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam.” It received strong support in the Lok Sabha and unanimous approval in the Rajya Sabha.
5. Census and Delimitation Process : The law’s enforcement hinges on the next census and subsequent delimitation exercise, which will redraw Lok Sabha and Assembly constituencies to allocate seats reserved for women.
6. Duration of Reservation : The reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and Assemblies is set to remain in effect for 15 years. However, Parliament has the authority to extend this period through subsequent legislation.
7. Quota for SC/ST Women : The bill includes a quota within a quota, reserving seats for Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) women to ensure their representation.
8. Demand for OBC Inclusion : Opposition parties have called for extending the benefit of reservation to Other Backward Classes (OBC) women, highlighting the need for broader inclusivity.
9. Historical Journey : The Women’s Reservation Bill has a long and complex history, with its first introduction in 1996. Despite passing the Rajya Sabha in 2010, it faced obstacles in the Lok Sabha due to a lack of consensus and insufficient support during the Congress-led UPA era.
10. Current Representation : Currently, women MPs make up nearly 15% of the Lok Sabha, while their representation remains below 10% in many State Assemblies. This bill aims to significantly enhance their political participation and representation in India’s legislative bodies.

Arguments Against the Bill

• Lack of Clarity : The Bill lacks specifics on the election cycles from which women will gain their reserved seats.
• Missing Representation : Notably, the Bill doesn’t extend women’s reservation to the Rajya Sabha and State Legislative Councils, despite lower female representation compared to Lok Sabha

Source- The Hindu , The Indian Express