President Murmu approved the Women's Reservation Bill

It Becomes law...

NEW DELHI: The Women's Reservation Bill was enacted by Parliament a few days ago, and it became law on Friday after receiving the president's assent. For the Lok Sabha and state Assemblies, the law guarantees women a 33 percent reservation.

Although it was initially filed in the Lok Sabha as the Constitution (128th) Amendment Bill, it will now be referred to as the Constitution (106th Amendment) Act because several proposed constitutional revisions have not yet been approved by Parliament.

According to a notification from the Law Ministry, "It shall take effect on such date as the Central Government may, by notification in the official gazette, appoint."

It is doubtful that the reservation will be put into effect for the 2024 elections because it will be put into effect after the next census and the consequent redrawing of Lok Sabha and Assembly constituencies.

The seats that will be designated as being reserved for women will be decided during the delimitation exercise planned for after 2026.

The law states that the benefit period for the women's quota in the Lok Sabha and assemblies will be extended by Parliament if necessary after the initial 15-year period.

In a special session of Parliament last week, the law was approved by both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, making it a historic accomplishment.