From torn Bills, ‘parkati mahila’ jibe to 454 ayes: The long, turbulent road to women’s reservation

What Happened

The government will introduce delimitation Bills in Parliament on Thursday, enabling early implementation of the women's reservation law passed in 2023. The legislation's 40-year journey involved significant contestation. Initial Constituent Assembly debates saw women members opposing quotas. By the 1990s, political consensus shifted toward recognizing structural barriers. The H.D. Deve Gowda government introduced the bill in 1996, seeking 33% reservation. Opposition from social justice parties demanding internal caste quotas prolonged deliberations. Parliamentary disruptions occurred, including torn bills in 1998. Multiple attempts failed before eventual passage.

Key Entities

AI Tools