Summary
The Indian government is pushing to speed up a 2023 law that reserves one-third of seats in parliament and state assemblies for women. They are linking this change to a plan to redraw electoral boundaries and increase the total number of parliamentary seats, which has caused political disagreements.
Key Facts
- India plans to reserve 33% of seats in parliament and state assemblies for women.
- The government introduced three bills, including one to redraw election boundaries (delimitation).
- The number of seats in the lower house of parliament (Lok Sabha) may increase from 543 to 850.
- The bills need a two-thirds majority in both houses to pass, requiring 360 votes; the ruling alliance holds 293 seats.
- Currently, women hold about 14% of Lok Sabha seats; the change aims to increase this.
- Opposition parties worry that redrawing boundaries could favor the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, mainly supported in densely populated northern states.
- Delimitation has not been done since 1971; new changes would use data from the 2011 census.
- The ongoing census, started recently, may change population data, but the government prefers using the older 2011 figures now.
