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Women Reservation Law: The members of the Lok Sabha on Friday voted for the Constitution (One Hundred and Thirty-First Amendment) Bill, 2026, in which 278 votes were 'ayes' and 211 'noes' in a total of 489 votes, which means the bill failed in the Lower House. The government tabled three bills - The Constitution (One Hundred and Thirty-First Amendment) Bill, 2026, the Delimitation Bill, 2026, and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026 - to amend the women's quota law and to set up a delimitation commission. Two bills have not been put up for voting as the government withdrew them, seeing the Opposition in no mood to favour proposed legislation.

ALSO READ: 'Halt Proceeding For An Hour, Will Bring Amendment To Bill': Amit Shah Offers 50% Increase In LS Seats Across States If Oppn Agrees

What Norms Say To Pass The Constitution Amendment Bill

Amending the Constitution requires a special majority in both houses of Parliament: a majority of the total membership (more than 50 per cent) and a two-thirds majority of members present and voting. So if all 540 members who are there in the house currently are present and voting, the two-thirds majority mark would be 360.

Quiz

According to the article, what is the minimum majority required to amend the Constitution?

In September 2023, Parliament passed the ‘Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam’, marking a significant step towards enhancing women’s representation in legislative bodies. The Act provided for the reservation of one-third of seats for women in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies. Now, the efforts to implement the women’s reservation across the country after the delimitation went in vain as the government failed to get support from the Opposition. 

ALSO READ: '33% Reservation Under Nari Shakti Vandan Act Will Empower Women': Delhi CM Rekha Gupta At FICCI Event In Tamil Nadu

Women Will Not Spare You: Amit Shah Tells Oppn In Lok Sabha

Moments before the voting, Union Home Minister Amit Shah alleged that the opposition parties are against women's reservation in Lok Sabha and state Assemblies as well as an increase in the number of SC, ST seats. Replying to the debate in the Lok Sabha on the three bills introduced to amend the women's quota law and to set up a delimitation commission, Shah also claimed that the Congress deprived people of delimitation when it was in power, and it is still doing the same. He said women of India are watching who are against their empowerment. Shah claimed that women will not spare them (Opposition leaders) when they go to ask for votes.

"If anyone hears this discussion carefully, one will realise that nobody opposed the constitutional amendment for women's reservation. Everyone said 'we welcome this move'. But all the members of the INDIA group clearly opposed women's reservation," Shah said at the conclusion of the debate in which about 130 MPs took part over two days.

The home minister said the Constitution provides for periodic delimitation and that includes provisions for increasing the SC and ST seats in proportion to their growing population.


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