Modi Govt Eyes 2029 For Women’s 33 Per Cent Quota Rollout As Census, Delimitation Set Stage: Report

The Modi government is reportedly aiming to implement one-third reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies from the 2029 general elections, The Indian Express reported, citing sources.

The Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, passed in September 2023, mandates that 33 per cent of seats be reserved for women, but it's rollout is tied to the completion of the next Census and a subsequent delimitation exercise.

Government sources cited in the IE report said the Census has already been announced and will use 1 March 2027 as the reference date.

With digital tools like mobile apps and a central portal, data collection and collation are expected to be faster than before.

Once the data is available, Parliament will need to pass a Delimitation Act to set up a commission for redrawing constituency boundaries.

The reservation will come into effect only after this process is completed, ideally in time for the 2029 polls.

Southern states have raised concerns that delimitation based on updated population figures could lead to a shift in Lok Sabha seats towards northern states, where population growth has been higher, thereby reducing the relative weight of the south.

Senior ministers have assured that these concerns will be addressed.

Home Minister Amit Shah has said that southern states would not lose any seats on a pro-rata basis, though the exact mechanism remains unclear.

Currently, Lok Sabha representation is based on the 1971 Census, with delimitation frozen since 1976.

Unless Parliament passes another constitutional amendment, the freeze will lapse in 2026, making the upcoming Census and delimitation exercise crucial steps toward implementing the women's reservation law.