Women's Reservation: Proposed Amendment Links 33% Representation to Lok Sabha Expansion

The news

The government is considering a special sitting of Parliament to pass a constitutional amendment that would expand the Lok Sabha to a maximum of 850 members and introduce 33% reservation for women in Parliament and state legislative assemblies, according to government sources on November 12, 2026. The monsoon session was adjourned three months ago but has not been prorogued, leaving the option to convene a sitting within 48 hours. Government sources claimed the proposed bill could pass by a margin of 15–18 votes, though no dates or supporting parties have been disclosed.

A constitutional amendment requires a two-thirds majority of members present and voting, as well as a majority of the total membership of each House. The government has cited 360 votes as the required figure in the Lok Sabha, which has a current strength of 543. To reach that figure, it requires support from 25–30 MPs from opposition parties, and sources said the government is in touch with MPs from the DMK, Samajwadi Party, NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) and others. The proposed amendment would link women's reservation to delimitation, which would redraw constituency boundaries and increase the number of seats.

What was the 106th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2023?

The Constitution (One Hundred and Sixth Amendment) Act, 2023 inserted Articles 330A, 332A, and 334A into the Constitution to reserve one-third of seats for women in the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies, including seats reserved for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. The reservation is to come into effect after a delimitation exercise is carried out on the basis of the first census published after the amendment's commencement, and it will initially apply for fifteen years. The Act received the President's assent on 28 September 2023 after being passed by both Houses of Parliament during a special session. The amendment does not provide for reservation in the Rajya Sabha or state legislative councils.

What is the existing women's reservation provision?

The Constitution (106th Amendment) Act, 2023 already provides for reservation of approximately one-third of seats for women in the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies, linked to delimitation after publication of the relevant census figures. The proposed further amendment must be distinguished from the existing constitutional provisions.

How would the proposed amendment work?

The proposal envisages increasing Lok Sabha membership from 543 to a maximum of 850 through delimitation. A larger House could change the distribution of representation and the number of seats available for reservation. The stated 15–18 vote margin is a government claim, not a parliamentary result. A constitutional amendment generally requires, in each House, a majority of its total membership and a two-thirds majority of members present and voting; some amendments also require ratification by at least half of the state legislatures.

What is the procedural status of the special sitting?

Adjournment suspends a sitting of a House, whereas prorogation terminates its session. The monsoon session's continued status is relevant to the proposed sitting. Government sources indicated preparations to convene a meeting within 48 hours, but neither a sitting date nor a parliamentary outcome had been announced.