Back to today’s briefing

Story perspectives

Modi's Women Reservation Bill Fails in Parliament Vote

4/19/2026

35 2 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's proposal to expand Parliament and reserve one-third of seats for women failed in the Lok Sabha, after receiving 298 votes to 230.
The defeat is tied to a contentious delimitation bill and is seen as a setback for women's representation.
This is the first constitutional amendment failure for Modi's government since 2014.

History

Historical Context

The Women's Reservation Bill, first introduced in India in 1996, aimed to reserve 33% of legislative seats for women but faced repeated failures due to political opposition. Despite passing in 2023, the bill's implementation hinges on future census and delimitation processes. This ongoing struggle highlights the persistent gender disparities in Indian politics, where women currently hold less than 15% of parliamentary seats.

1 of 2

Story summary

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's proposal to expand Parliament and reserve one-third of seats for women failed in the Lok Sabha, after receiving 298 votes to 230.
The defeat is tied to a contentious delimitation bill and is seen as a setback for women's representation.
This is the first constitutional amendment failure for Modi's government since 2014.

1 / 2