Centre and Opposition engage in parliamentary conflict over women’s reservation and delimitation bill, government aims to enlarge Lok Sabha to approximately 850 seats and enhance state representations for 33 percent quota
The Centre is advocating for the Constitution (One Hundred and Thirty-First Amendment) Bill, 2026, viewing it as a pivotal reform to implement the women’s quota legislation. However, Opposition parties are gearing up to contest the bill due to its delimitation stipulations, setting the stage for an intense discussion.
In the meantime, the government is expected to present a range of laws in the Lok Sabha, including the constitutional amendment bill, a delimitation bill, and a law enabling Union territories with legislatures — such as Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, and Puducherry — to expedite the enforcement of the women’s reservation law enacted in 2023.
According to the proposal, the Lok Sabha seats could rise to as many as 850 from the current total of 543 to accommodate the quota, contingent on a delimitation process based on the latest census data. The draft bill also outlines plans to increase the number of seats in state assemblies and Union territories to ensure a 33% reservation for women.
