Women Reservation: Debate on New Bill as Old Law Comes into Effect

The central government has implemented the Women Reservation Act, also known as the “Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, 2023,” from April 16, 2026. At the same time, Parliament began a three-day debate on amendments to the law.

Around midnight, an official notification was issued to bring the original law into effect. This created a situation where the amendment was being discussed for a law that had just been officially notified.

According to government officials, amendments can only be made once a law is in force, which explains the sudden issuance of the notification.

However, even after implementation, the 33% reservation for women in Parliament and state assemblies will not come into effect immediately. As per the 2023 law, it will be implemented only after the 2027 census and subsequent delimitation exercise.

The opposition raised questions in Parliament on April 16, asking how an amendment bill could be introduced for a law that was not yet in force at the time of its introduction.

Congress MP K.C. Venugopal stated that the notification was issued around 10 PM at night, while the amendment bill had already been introduced and debated earlier in the day.