New Delhi: In a landmark development for gender representation in Indian politics, the Women’s Reservation Act, 2023 officially known as the Constitution (106th Amendment) Act or Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam has formally come into force, marking a crucial step toward enhancing women’s participation in legislative bodies across the country.
The Union Law Ministry issued a notification bringing the provisions of the Act into effect from April 16, 2026. This move signals the government’s commitment to institutional reforms aimed at correcting long-standing gender imbalances in political representation.
The Act mandates the reservation of one-third (33%) of seats for women in the Lok Sabha, state legislative assemblies, and the Legislative Assembly of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. Importantly, this quota will also apply within seats already reserved for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs), ensuring inclusive representation.
The legislation is widely regarded as the culmination of decades of political debate and repeated attempts to pass a women’s quota bill, dating back to the 1990s. Its passage in 2023 was hailed as a historic achievement, receiving overwhelming support in Parliament.
Despite its enforcement, the actual rollout of reserved seats will not be immediate. The Act stipulates that implementation will take effect only after the completion of the next national census and the subsequent delimitation exercise, which involves redrawing constituency boundaries.
As a result, the reservation is expected to be operational from the 2029 general elections, aligning with the constitutional roadmap laid out in the legislation.
The reservation for women will initially be in force for a period of 15 years, although Parliament retains the authority to extend it further. Additionally, the seats allocated for women will be rotated periodically among constituencies after each delimitation, ensuring broader geographical representation over time.
Currently, women constitute only a modest proportion of lawmakers in India around 15% in the Lok Sabha and even lower in several state assemblies. The new law aims to bridge this gap and align India with global efforts toward gender equality in governance.
Supporters argue that increased female representation will lead to more inclusive policymaking and stronger focus on social issues such as education, healthcare, and welfare. Critics, however, continue to raise concerns about implementation delays and the absence of sub-quotas for other marginalized groups.
With the Act now in force, India enters a new phase in its democratic evolution. While the practical impact will unfold over the coming years, the notification itself is being seen as a decisive policy signal one that acknowledges the critical role of women in shaping the nation’s political future.
The coming years will determine how effectively this constitutional promise translates into meaningful participation and leadership for women across India’s legislative landscape.