Bhubaneswar: India’s landmark legislation, the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, guarantees 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies, marking a significant step toward enhancing women’s political representation.
The implementation of the law, however, is contingent upon the completion of the next national census and the subsequent delimitation exercise. Government officials have indicated that the reservation is expected to come into effect by 2029.
Once operational, the Act will reserve one-third of total seats for women, including those within the Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) quotas, ensuring broader inclusivity.
The legislation has been widely seen as a transformative reform aimed at correcting gender imbalance in Indian politics, though the timeline for its rollout has drawn debate due to its linkage with delimitation.
The move is expected to reshape the political landscape by increasing women’s participation in lawmaking bodies at both the central and state levels.
-OdishaAge
