NEW DELHI, APR 17: The Women Reservation Act 2023, reserving 33% seats for women in legislatures, officially came into force on April 16, paving the way for proposed amendments under parliamentary debate.
An official explained the move was crucial: “The original law needed activation before any changes could take effect.” Passed in September 2023 as the ‘Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam’, it hadn’t been operationalized until now, despite becoming law.
The notification stated: “In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (2) of section 1 of the Constitution (One Hundred and Sixth Amendment) Act, 2023, the Central Government hereby appoints the 16th day of April, 2026 as the date on which the provisions of the said Act shall come into force.”
Though now active, implementation awaits a delimitation exercise based on the next Census—targeting 2029, not the current House. The ongoing Lok Sabha bills—Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill 2026, Delimitation Bill 2026, and Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill 2026—aim to fast-track this from the original 2034 timeline tied to the post-2027 Census.
