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33% Women's Reservation Bill Fails; Government Withdraws Related Legislation

4/17/2026

39 4 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill to reserve 33% for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies failed to pass on April 17, 2026, lacking the two-thirds majority.
The vote was 298 in favor and 230 against.
Following the defeat, the government withdrew the Delimitation Bill and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill.
Opposition leaders criticized that the government tied women's empowerment to delimitation based on outdated census data.

History

Historical Context

The 81st Constitutional Amendment in India, enacted in 1996, aimed to improve women's political representation, addressing the stark reality that women held only 8% of parliamentary seats. The recent failure of the 131st Amendment Bill, which sought to reserve 33% of seats for women, reflects ongoing struggles for gender equality in governance, underscoring the persistent challenges in achieving women's empowerment in India.

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Story summary

The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill to reserve 33% for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies failed to pass on April 17, 2026, lacking the two-thirds majority.
The vote was 298 in favor and 230 against.
Following the defeat, the government withdrew the Delimitation Bill and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill.
Opposition leaders criticized that the government tied women's empowerment to delimitation based on outdated census data.

1 / 2