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India's Lok Sabha to add more seats for women; special session will be convened
The Women’s Reservation Act, providing women 33 per cent of seats in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, is yet to be implemented because of the delimitation exercise
- PUBLISHED: Tue 24 Mar 2026, 7:58 PM
The strength of the Lok Sabha, the Lower House of the Indian parliament, will rise by 50 per cent to 816 from 543 at present, with the likely reservation of new seats for women. A special session of parliament will have to be convened to clear the bill, which is unlikely to be introduced in the current budget session.
The Women’s Reservation Act, providing for 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, is still to be implemented because of the delimitation exercise.
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Once the bill is passed, the strength of the Lower House will be raised for the first time in more than half a century. Home Minister Amit Shah has been meeting opposition party leaders in a bid to get their support for the new bill. The ruling National Democratic Alliance does not have the numbers to get the bill passed.
The government hopes to implement the new law before the 2029 parliamentary elections.
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A cabinet meeting on Wednesday will take up the issue of the Women’s Reservation Act and the possible setting up of a Delimitation Commission. The WRA specifies that the law will come into force only after the completion of the delimitation exercise.
But the opposition has objected to the linking of reservation to census and delimitation, pointing out that it would lead to delays in its implementation.
Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, the Upper House of parliament, Mallikarjun Kharge of the Congress, said it is necessary for the government to circulate a note on what exactly is being proposed by it.
The opposition parties led by the Congress are seeking an all-party meeting on the amendments to the Women’s Reservation Act.
