Table of Contents
Introduction:
Hello Readers!
Welcome to the new Bharat!
Congratulations to all of us who are witnessing the transformative changes happening in the new Bharat, and we can see it ascending to a leadership position.
Before we delve into the topic, we must first understand the Women’s Reservation Bill.
What is the Women Reservation Bill?
Women Reservation Bill: The Women’s Reservation Bill proposed legislation in India that would reserve 33% of seats in the Lok Sabha, the lower house of Parliament, and in all state legislative assemblies for women. The bill has been pending in Parliament since 1996 and has been passed by the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of Parliament, several times, but has never been passed by the Lok Sabha.
There are a number of arguments in favor of the Women’s Reservation Bill. Proponents of the bill argue that it would increase the representation of women in government, which would lead to better decision-making and policies that benefit women. They also argue that the bill would help to break down gender stereotypes and encourage more women to participate in politics.
Opponents of the Women’s Reservation Bill argue that it is discriminatory and that it would undermine the quality of democracy. They also argue that the bill would not necessarily lead to more qualified women being elected to office.
The Women’s Reservation Bill is a controversial issue, and there is no clear consensus on whether it should be passed. However, the bill has gained support in recent years, and there is a growing movement to get it passed into law.
This year in 2023, on September 20th, the Lok Sabha passed the Women Reservation Bill 2023, also known as the "Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam," with an overwhelming majority.
Arjun Ram Meghwal, the law minister, said the bill, which will reserve one-third of the seats in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies for women, is one of the steps the government has taken to advance women’s empowerment.
Since being passed in the Lok Sabha, several political parties, including senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, have demanded immediate implementation of the bill, starting with the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections. However, the BJP has said that immediate implementation is not possible.
33% Women reservation bill
The Women Reservation Bill, 2023, cannot be instantly implemented since the Indian Government must take into account a new census and delimitation exercise in order to prevent a court challenge, according to a report by News18, quoting sources acquainted with the proceedings.
The report further cited Union Home Minister Amit Shah as saying that if a seat was designated for women without any criteria established through a delimitation exercise, the government may be charged with partiality.
Notably, the most recent census figures are from 2011, while the most recent delimitation was completed much earlier. The COVID-19 pandemic caused a delay in the 2021 census.
Sonia Gandhi, a former leader of the Congress, stated in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday that the Women Reservation Bill, 2023, should be put into effect right away and that the OBC reservation should also be included in the women’s quota.
The Upper House is expected to approve the Women Reservation Bill, 2023, which was tabled on Thursday in the Rajya Sabha.
Then it will need to be approved by the majority of state assemblies. It will be put into effect following a delineation exercise using Census data.
The women’s reservation bill has been introduced seven times since 1996.
Nearly half of India’s 95 crore registered voters are women, although they only make up 15% of parliamentarians and 10% of state assembly members.
State legislatures and the Upper House of Parliament are exempt from the 33% female reservation.
Also, Read " 2023 की बेटी बचाओ बेटी पढाओ योजना"
FAQ
What is the women’s bill in India?
The Women’s Reservation Bill in India is a law idea that wants to set aside 33% of seats in the Lok Sabha, which is like the main Parliament, and in all state government meetings for women. This idea has been waiting in Parliament since 1996, and it has been approved by the Rajya Sabha, another part of Parliament, many times, but the Lok Sabha has never agreed to it.
What is the status of the women reservation bill in India?
The women reservation bill has been approved in the Lok Sabha on 20th September, 2023.
