NEW DELHI, June 12 — The central government is making preparations to implement 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha starting with the 2029 general elections, senior officials confirmed. The move stems from the recently passed Nari Shakti Vandan Act — a constitutional amendment aimed at significantly enhancing women’s participation in national policymaking.
However, the reservation can only come into effect after a fresh delimitation of parliamentary constituencies, which is currently barred by a statutory freeze effective until 2026. Officials said that following the end of this freeze, the government will need to bring in another constitutional amendment to activate the process, requiring support from both Houses of Parliament.
To lay the groundwork, preparations are already underway for the next delimitation exercise. Sources said the government plans to set up a Delimitation Commission, which will undertake state visits, gather public feedback, and prepare a comprehensive report recommending changes to constituency boundaries.
While the plan is seen as a major leap for gender inclusion in Indian politics, it has triggered concerns from southern states. These states — notably Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Karnataka — fear that using current population data could reduce their representation in Parliament, as they have historically succeeded in controlling population growth.
Government sources said those apprehensions are being “taken seriously.” One senior official noted, “The political participation of the southern states will not be compromised. Mechanisms are under discussion to ensure equitable representation even after population-based adjustments.”
Meanwhile, preparations for the delayed decennial census, which will provide the population data essential for delimitation, are also underway. Originally due in 2021 but postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the census is now expected to be conducted using advanced digital tools.
Officials revealed that a mobile application supporting 16 Indian languages will be deployed for data collection, integrated with Aadhaar verification. The use of biometric identification and artificial intelligence is also being considered to streamline data processing and accuracy.
The 33 per cent reservation for women is expected to reshape the country’s electoral landscape, but its rollout hinges on the successful completion of both the census and delimitation exercises — and crucially, on building consensus across India’s diverse political and regional spectrum.
