The Centre is ready to implement 33 per cent reservation for women in Lok Sabha from the 2029 general elections, sources indicated. This will be facilitated by the Nari Shakti Vandan Act—a constitutional amendment bill passed to enhance women’s representation in national politics.
But this quota will apply only after the re-delimitation of parliamentary constituencies. There is a legislative freeze on delimitation currently in place until 2026, and a constitutional amendment will be needed for anything to happen afterwards. This has to be passed by both Houses of Parliament.
Preparations for Delimitation Underway
Sources report that the government has already begun making preparations to ease the process of delimitation as soon as the freeze is over. A Delimitation Commission would be established, traveling from state to state to gather public representations and to submit a report proposing alteration of constituencies.
Southern States Voice Concerns
Southern Indian states are concerned about losing parliamentary seats in the new delimitation if it will be based on existing population counts. These states, having made great advances in controlling population, fear that their progress would result in decreased political representation.
Government ministers, however, have promised that these issues are being taken seriously. “The political representation of southern states won’t be affected,” sources assured. Methods are being explored to provide fair representation without penalizing states for good population management.
Tech-Driven Census Ahead
To aid the delimitation, the upcoming census will play a pivotal role. Initially set for 2021, but postponed in view of COVID-19, the new census will ride on cutting-edge technology. A mobile app with support for 16 Indian languages will facilitate data gathering. Aadhaar-linked authentication, biometric information, and AI software will also be incorporated into the process to ensure accuracy and efficiency.