The Constitution (One Hundred and Thirty First Amendment) Bill, 2026, which aims to “operationalise” 33 per cent reservation to women in Lok Sabha and state assemblies, has proposed increasing the strength of the lower house to up to 850 from the present 543. The draft bill outlining the expansion has been reportedly shared with MPs and it is set for introduction in Parliament on Thursday.

The bill seeks to amend Article 81 of the Constitution, according to news agency PTI.

It states that “The House of the People (Lok Sabha) shall consist of not more than 815 members chosen by direct election from territorial constituencies in the states; and not more than 35 members to represent the Union territories, chosen in such manner as Parliament may by law provide.”

The expression “population”, according to the bill, means the population as ascertained at such Census of which the relevant figures have been published.
As of now figures of 2011 Census are available.

The government plans to bring a Constitution amendment bill, a bill on delimitation law and an enabling bill for Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir and Puducherry — three Union territories with legislature — on Thursday in Lok Sabha to fast track implementation of the women’s reservation Act of 2023.

“The next census and the consequential delimitation exercise thereafter will take considerable time and thus, delay the effective and dedicated participation of women in our democratic polity.

“Hence, the objective of the proposed bill is to operationalise one-third reservation for women, including women belonging to the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes, in the House of the People and the legislative assemblies of the states, the National Capital Territory of Delhi and the Union territories through delimitation exercise to be undertaken on the basis of the population figures of the latest published census,” says the statement of objects and reasons of the draft Constitution amendment bill.

The government intends to move a Constitution amendment bill for the implementation of 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha from 2029 in a special sitting of Parliament on April 16, 17,18.

During the special sitting, members will discuss amendments to Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, 2023 and the proposed Delimitation Bill.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged all political parties to support the proposed amendment bill.

“After four decades of anticipation, Parliament passed the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam. This has ensured 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies. All parties came forward to support this important law. The rights that women have now received should not face any delay in implementation. It should be implemented now. Lok Sabha elections will be held in 2029, followed by the ongoing state assembly elections. It should be implemented before 2029. This is the sentiment of the nation. This is the desire of Nari Shakti,” he said at an event in Dehradun.

“Let all political parties come together and advance this work concerning the rights of the country’s sisters and daughters with a unanimous consensus,” PM Modi said.

Opposition raises red flags

The Opposition is set to challenge the government’s delimitation push, particularly the use of 2011 Census data. According to an India Today report, parties including AAP, RJD and DMK want the exercise instead be based on updated 2021 Census figures.

Several INDIA bloc parties have also sought clarity on the long-standing demand for a “quota within quota” for women from backward classes.

Opposition leaders and allies, including AAP, are expected to hold a strategy meting at Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s residence in Delhi. The meeting is likely to be attended by senior leaders of Trinamool Congress and DMK, which are in power in poll-bound West Bengal and Tamil Nadu.

Trinamool Congress MP Derek O’Brien flagged the timing of the three-day session, called before assembly polls set to take place on April 23 and April 29

Questioning the government’s intent, O’Brien argued that the proposed amendments are more focused on delimitation than on implementing women’s reservation.

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“Constitutional Amendment Bills are to be taken up on April 16. Where is the copy of the bill?” he asked.

He noted that the BJP would need Opposition support to pass constitutional amendments, which require a two-thirds majority in Parliament. The Opposition bloc is banking on this requirement to push its demands and seek greater clarity from the government.