Constitution Amendment Bill on Women’s Reservation Defeated in Lok Sabha

PTI, Apr 17, 2026, New Delhi: A Constitution Amendment Bill to implement reservation for women in legislatures in 2029 and increase the number of seats of the Lok Sabha was defeated on Friday in the Lower House.

While 298 members voted in support of the Bill, 230 MPs voted against it. Out of 528 members who voted, the Bill required 352 votes for a two-thirds majority.

According to the Constitution Amendment Bill, Lok Sabha seats were to be increased to a maximum of 850 from the current 543 to "operationalise" the women's reservation law before the 2029 Parliamentary polls, following a delimitation exercise based on the 2011 Census. Seats were also to be increased in states and Union Territory Assemblies to accommodate 33 per cent reservation for women.

After the Bill was defeated, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju said Opposition has lost historic opportunity to honour women.

This is the first time in 12 years that a constitutional amendment Bill introduced by the Modi government has fallen.

Earlier, replying to the debate in the Lok Sabha on the three Bills introduced to amend the women's quota law and to set up a delimitation commission, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that the Opposition parties are against women's reservation in Lok Sabha and state Assemblies as well as an increase in the number of SC, ST seats.

Shah also claimed that the Congress deprived people of delimitation when it was in power, and it is still doing the same.

"If anyone hears this discussion carefully, one will realise that nobody opposed the constitutional amendment for women's reservation. Everyone said 'we welcome this move'. But all the members of the INDIA group clearly opposed women's reservation," Shah said at the conclusion of the debate in which about 130 MPs took part over two days.

The Home Minister said the Constitution provides for periodic delimitation and that includes provisions for increasing the SC and ST seats in proportion to their growing population. "In a way, those opposing delimitation are also opposing the increase in SC and ST seats," he said in a strong rebuttal to opposition's charges of a hidden agenda behind the government's proposal of delimitation of constituencies.

Shah also said that many members in the House expressed concerns about the reasons behind initiating the move to carry out delimitation now, saying the 'Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam' mentions that after the census to be conducted post 2026, in the delimitation that follows, reservation for women will be ensured.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had on Friday appealed to all Lok Sabha members to vote in favour of the women's reservation Bill and said the time has come to ensure that half of the nation's population receives its rightful due in decision-making.

Shortly before the voting on the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, which provides for 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, Modi urged all members not to do anything that may hurt the sentiments of women across India.

"Crores of women are watching us... our intent and our decisions. I once again request that everyone support the amendments to the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam," Modi said in his appeal posted on X.