Women's quota: Govt to take Opp on board for hike in LS, Assembly seats, Pg9

Key Highlights:

• The government is considering increasing Lok Sabha seats to 816 from 545, with around 270 reserved for women, following the passage of the Nari Vandan Adhiniyam.
• Opposition parties are requesting an all-party meeting to discuss the proposal to increase Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha seats for the women's reservation Act.
• A Special Session of Parliament may be convened after the ongoing Assembly elections to consider amendments to the Nari Vandan Adhiniyam and the Delimitation Commission Act.
• The government aims to implement the women’s quota from the 2029 elections and suggested forming a Delimitation Commission by June this year.

Detailed Insights:

• Constitutional amendments require a two-thirds majority in both Houses, necessitating the government to seek support from the Opposition for the proposed changes.
• The government's proposal ensures that the share of states in the total seats remains the same, with each state expected to see roughly a 50% increase in its number of constituencies.
• Opposition parties are concerned about the delinking of delimitation from caste enumeration, which is being conducted as part of the ongoing Census.
• The government's move is seen as an effort to consolidate its support base among women and send a positive message to southern states regarding the delimitation exercise.
• The ongoing Assembly elections conclude on April 29, after which the government is expected to engage in discussions with the Opposition regarding the proposed amendments.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Nari Vandan Adhiniyam: Legislation providing reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies.
• Delimitation Commission: A body that redraws the boundaries of electoral constituencies to reflect population changes.
• Constitutional Amendment: A modification to the Constitution of a country, requiring a special majority for passage.