Women’s Reservation Act: PM Modi Calls It ‘Civilisational Commitment'

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that increasing women’s representation in legislative bodies is essential to strengthen India’s democracy, asserting that the move reflects the aspirations of crores of women and cannot be delayed further.

In an article published on his official website on April 9, 2026, Modi described the push for women’s reservation as going beyond a legislative measure, calling it an expression of India’s civilisational ethos where societal progress is intrinsically linked to the advancement of women. He said India stands at a pivotal moment to deepen its democratic framework by ensuring greater participation of women in governance.

Referring to the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, also known as the Women's Reservation Act, the Prime Minister said the provision granting 33% reservation to women in the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies marked a historic milestone achieved through broad political consensus. He termed its passage among the most significant moments of his public life, stating that it advances the constitutional promise of equality in both principle and practice.

Parliament had passed the law in September 2023. However, the legislation, formally known as the Constitution (106th Amendment) Act, was contingent on a delimitation exercise following the 2027 Census, effectively delaying its implementation until at least 2034.

In a move aimed at advancing the timeline, reportedly, the Union Cabinet on April 8, 2026 cleared three draft legislations, including a Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, a Delimitation Bill, and a separate law for Union Territories with legislative assemblies. These are set to be introduced during a special session of Parliament commencing April 16.

The proposed amendment seeks to delink the operation of the women’s quota from the delimitation process, thereby enabling earlier implementation of the reservation framework. If enacted, the changes could operationalise the law in time for the 2029 general elections.

Under the revised framework, the reservation for women is proposed to follow a vertical quota structure, ensuring representation within Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes categories as well.

In his op-ed, PM Modi pointed out that despite women’s growing contributions, their representation in legislative bodies has remained limited. He said this imbalance needs to be corrected to make India’s democracy more inclusive and representative.

He recalled that earlier efforts to introduce reservation for women in Parliament and assemblies had not succeeded, and said the passage of the law in 2023 marked the culmination of a long-standing demand. According to him, the consensus achieved on the issue reflected a shared commitment to empowering women politically.

The Prime Minister also situated the move within the broader constitutional vision of equality, stating that increasing women’s representation is in line with the principles envisaged by the framers of the Constitution.

He said the initiative to give early effect to the 2023 law is not about any one political party but a national commitment, and called for cooperation among stakeholders to ensure its implementation.

Describing the moment as an important step in India’s democratic journey, PM Modi said the country now has an opportunity to correct a historical imbalance and move towards a more inclusive governance framework.

He added that timely action on women’s reservation would play a key role in shaping a more representative democracy as India approaches the centenary of its independence.

Read related reports on Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam:

Supreme Court Grants Centre 4 Weeks To Respond To PIL Seeking Implementation Of Women’s Reservation Law

SC Refuses To Entertain Pleas Challenging Provisions of Women's Reservation Act 2023

Women’s Reservation Act: Supreme Court Seeks Centre’s Reply on Delay Linked to Delimitation Exercise