Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam: The Central government has scheduled a special three-day Parliament session from April 16 to 18, 2026, to fast-track the implementation of the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam (Women’s
Reservation Act). This move aims to ensure that the 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies is active for the 2029 general elections.
What is Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam?
The Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam (officially the Constitution [106th Amendment] Act, 2023) was passed by the Indian Parliament in September 2023.
It was introduced on September 19, 2023, in the Lok Sabha during a special session of Parliament. Passed on September 20, 2023, with 454 votes in favor and 2 against. The Rajya Sabha passed it unanimously with 214 votes on September 21, 2023. It was signed into law by President Droupadi Murmu on September 28, 2023.
The provisions
- 33% Reservation: Reserves one-third of all seats for women in the Lok Sabha, State Legislative Assemblies, and the Delhi Legislative Assembly.
- Implementation Status: While passed in 2023, the original Act required a fresh Census and delimitation exercise before taking effect.
3 Legislative moves in April 16-18 session
The session is expected to focus on a package of constitutional amendments and new bills to bypass previous legal bottlenecks:
Delinking from Census: The government proposes to delink the reservationfrom the requirement of a fresh Census and subsequent delimitation. Originally, the law enacted in 2023 would have only come into effect after the next Census (delayed to 2027), potentially pushing the rollout to 2034.
Expansion of seats: A central part of the plan is to increase the total number of Lok Sabha seats from 543 to 816. Of these, 273 seats would be reserved for women. This expansion allows for the women’s quota without reducing the number of existing seats for current members.
Delimitation: The government plans to introduce a Delimitation Bill, 2026, to redraw constituency boundaries based on 2011 Census data instead of waiting for new population figures. This exercise is intended to address concerns from southern states like Kerala and Tamil Nadu, ensuring they are not “penalised” with fewer seats due to successful population control.
What will be done?
For the constitutional amendments, the government will require a two-thirds majority in both Houses to pass the legislation.
Both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress have issued mandatory whips for their MPs to be present throughout the three-day session. Both the BJP and JD(U) have issued three-line whips to their MPs, making attendance mandatory for all three days.
What PM Modi said
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday that the proposed amendments to the Women Reservation Act is not merely a legislative exercise but a reflection of the aspirations of crores of women across India and urged all MPs to come together to support this move.
In a signed article posted on his website narendramodi.in, the prime minister also said that the move is an affirmation of a principle that has long guided India’s civilisational ethos that society progresses when women progress. He said it is imperative that the 2029 Lok Sabha elections and the Assembly elections to the various states in the coming times are conducted with women’s reservation in place.
Speaking at the Nari Shakti Vandan Sammelan in Delhi. https://t.co/bnocSJqwYB
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 13, 2026
The prime minister said the nation stands at the threshold of a historic occasion, and it is an opportunity to deepen the foundations of the country’s democracy and to reaffirm the collective commitment to equality and inclusion.
He said that on April 16, Parliament will be convened to discuss and pass an important Bill that advances women’s reservation. “To describe this merely as a legislative exercise would be an understatement. It is a reflection of the aspirations of crores of women across India,” he said.
What the Opposition said
The Congress and other opposition parties have questioned the timing of the session—held amid state elections—and the lack of transparency regarding the delimitation process.
KEY FAQs
What is the government planning in the special session?
During the April 16–18 session, the government is expected to focus on women’s reservation, delimitation, and the broader “Nari Shakti” agenda, presenting them as interconnected reforms.
How are women’s reservation and delimitation linked?
The proposed women’s quota in Parliament is tied to a future delimitation exercise, meaning it would be implemented only after constituencies are redrawn based on population changes.
What does ‘Nari Shakti’ signify here?
‘Nari Shakti’ (women’s empowerment) is being used as a political and policy theme to highlight gender-focused reforms, including greater representation in legislatures and governance.
With PTI, agency inputs
