The three-day special session of Parliament commenced on April 16, 2026, with the Union Government tabling three pivotal pieces of legislation: The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, The Delimitation Bill, and The Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill. These bills aim to operationalize the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, effectively guaranteeing a 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies. A major highlight of the proposal is the significant expansion of the Lok Sabha’s strength from 543 to 850 seats, a move intended to accommodate women’s reservation without reducing the existing representation of male legislators.
While the INDIA bloc and other opposition parties have expressed their support for the women’s quota in principle, the session has been marked by fierce debate over the accompanying delimitation framework. Opposition leaders, including Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, have accused the government of using the women’s reservation as a “political cover” for a “dangerous” delimitation exercise based on the 2011 Census. They argue that redrawing boundaries using outdated population data unfairly benefits northern states with higher population growth while penalizing southern states that have successfully implemented family planning
In a rare show of unity, the opposition has demanded that the quota be implemented immediately within the existing 543-seat structure or delayed until a fresh, caste-inclusive census is completed. Protests have already erupted outside the House, notably in Tamil Nadu, where CM MK Stalin condemned the bills as an attack on the federal structure. With the NDA needing a two-thirds majority to pass the constitutional amendment, the next 48 hours will be a critical test of legislative negotiation and political willpower.
