Part XVI - Special Provisions for Certain Classes • Article

Article 334A Simplified: Reservation of seats for women to take effect

Article 334A deals with reservation of seats for women to take effect. Its official text controls the legal rule; the simplified note only helps readers understand the subject and context.

Official Text

(1) Notwithstanding anything in the foregoing provision of this Part or Part VIII, the provisions of the Constitution relating to the reservation of seats for women in the House of the People, the Legislative Assembly of a State and the Legislative Assembly of the National Capital Territory of Delhi shall come into effect after an exercise of delimitation is undertaken for this purpose after the relevant figures for the first census taken after commencement of the Constitution (One Hundred and Sixth Amendment) Act, 2023 have been published and shall cease to have effect on the expiration of a period of fifteen years from such commencement. (2) Subject to the provisions of articles 239AA, 330A and 332A, seats reserved for women in the House of the People, the Legislative Assembly of a State and the Legislative Assembly of the National Capital Territory of Delhi shall continue till such date as the Parliament may by law determine. (3) Rotation of seats reserved for women in the House of the People, the Legislative Assembly of a State and the Legislative Assembly of the National Capital Territory of Delhi shall take effect after each subsequent exercise of delimitation as the Parliament may by law determine. (4) Nothing in this article shall affect any representation in the House of the People, the Legislative Assembly of a State or the Legislative Assembly of the National Capital Territory of Delhi until the dissolution of the then existing House of the People, Legislative Assembly of a State or the Legislative Assembly of the National Capital Territory of Delhi.

Simple Meaning

Article 334A deals with reservation of seats for women to take effect. Its official text controls the legal rule; the simplified note only helps readers understand the subject and context.

Explain Like Ten

This rule says that the 33% seats reserved for women will start only after we do a new count of the population (census) and redraw the voting area boundaries (delimitation). Once it starts, it will last for 15 years.

Student Mode

Inserted by the 106th Amendment Act, 2023. Specifies that women's reservation (Article 330A and 332A) will take effect after a delimitation exercise is conducted using population figures from the first census taken after the commencement of the amendment. Clause (1) sets the expiration of this reservation at 15 years from its commencement, subject to extension by Parliament. Seats will be rotated after each delimitation.

Example

If a public authority is dealing with reservation of seats for women to take effect, Article 334A is the constitutional starting point before checking statutes, rules, and case law.

Key Takeaway

Article 334A should be read with nearby articles in its Part of the Constitution.

FAQs

When will the women's political reservation actually come into effect?

It will come into effect after the first census following the 2023 amendment is published, and a subsequent delimitation of constituencies is completed.

What is the initial duration of the women's political reservation under Article 334A?

The reservation is set to last for an initial period of fifteen (15) years from the date it takes effect.

How will the reserved seats be allocated over time?

Under Article 334A(3), the reserved seats will be rotated to different constituencies after each subsequent delimitation exercise.

Quiz

According to Article 334A, women's political reservation will initially last for how many years?

Answer: 15 years

What two processes must happen before the women's reservation takes effect?

Answer: A census and a delimitation exercise