Women's Reservation Act: The 106th Amendment | Bharat Samvidhan

Complete legal analysis of the 106th Amendment (2023). Understand Article 334A, 330A, 332A, and the implementation roadmap.

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WOMEN'S RESERVATION

106TH AMENDMENT

Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam: Full Analysis

The Constitution (One Hundred and Sixth Amendment) Act, 2023, is a landmark legislation that aims to bridge the gender gap in Indian politics by reserving one-third of seats for women. As of 5 June 2026, the reservation is constitutionally enacted but its practical start depends on the census-delimitation condition in Article 334A.

Current 2026 status

The April 2026 attempt to speed up implementation through the 131st Amendment-linked delimitation package did not become law. This does not cancel women's reservation; it means the implementation route remains tied to census and delimitation.

Read the implementation and delay explainer

01. The Core Provisions & Articles

The Act introduces three primary articles to the Constitution, ensuring that women's representation is legally protected at both the Central and State levels.

Article 330A

Reserves one-third of seats in the House of the People (Lok Sabha) for women, including within SC/ST reserved seats.

Article 332A

Mandates one-third reservation in every State Legislative Assembly, ensuring state-level representation.

Article 239AA

Specifically extends these reservation protections to the Legislative Assembly of Delhi.

Article 334A: The Implementation Clause

\"The provisions... 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 Act have been published.\"

Reality: implementation is tied to the census-delimitation trigger, not immediate reservation of seats.

02. Myths vs. Policy Reality

There are several misconceptions regarding how this reservation works in practice. Here is the verified legal reality:

03. The 27-Year Legislative Journey

04. Impact on Political Representation

Beyond the numbers, the Act aims to shift the \"critical mass\" of women in policy-making, from a historically low share toward constitutionally guaranteed one-third representation after commencement.

Lok Sabha Shift

In the current 543-seat Lok Sabha structure, one-third reservation would mean at least 181 seats for women. If Lok Sabha strength changes through delimitation, the absolute number would change with the new House size.

State Assemblies

Uniform representation across all states will ensure that local policies (healthcare, education, safety) are driven by a significant female voice.

Implementation explainer

Delimitation guide

Seat formula debate

LAST REVIEWED 5 JUNE 2026