The Union Cabinet on Monday (September 18) approved the Women Reservation Bill that grants 33 percent reservation for women in both the Lok Sabha (the lower house of India’s Parliament) and state assemblies.
Under this bill, one-third of the seats in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies will be reserved for women candidates. These reserved seats will be rotated following each general election, ensuring a fair and equitable distribution. Additionally, the bill proposes sub-reservation within the 33 percent quota for Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and Anglo-Indians.
The Women’s Reservation Bill has faced a turbulent history, with similar Bills introduced in 1996, 1998, and 1999. In 2008, a significant attempt was made, resulting in the Bill’s passage in the Rajya Sabha in 2010 before it lapsed due to the dissolution of the Lok Sabha.
