Women Reservation
The 106th Amendment, 33% Quota & The Delimitation Condition
PART I — THE NARI SHAKTI FRAMEWORK
106TH AMENDMENT ACT, 2023
The 33% Quota
33%
- The **Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam** provides for the reservation of **one-third (33%)** of all seats for women in the targeted legislative bodies.
- **Horizontal Reservation:** It includes a sub-reservation for SC and ST women within the existing quotas reserved for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
- It aims to increase women's political participation and representation at the highest legislative levels.
APPLICABILITY
Scope of Reservation
- **Applies to:** The Lok Sabha, State Legislative Assemblies (Vidhan Sabhas), and the Legislative Assembly of the National Capital Territory of Delhi.
- **Does NOT apply to:** The Rajya Sabha (Council of States) or the State Legislative Councils (Vidhan Parishads).
- *Why?* The RS and SLCs represent states/special constituencies via indirect elections, where direct territorial quotas are constitutionally complex to implement.
PART II — CONDITIONS & SUNSET
THE CONTINGENCY
Delimitation Linkage
- The reservation will **not** come into effect immediately.
- It will be implemented only **after a delimitation exercise** (redrawing of constituency boundaries) is undertaken.
- This delimitation is contingent upon the publication of the figures of the **first Census conducted after the Act's passage** (i.e., the delayed 2021 Census).
ROTATION & TIMELINE
Sunset Clause
15 YRS
- **Sunset Clause:** The reservation will cease to exist **15 years** after its commencement. However, Parliament can extend this period by law.
- **Rotation:** The seats reserved for women will be **rotated** after each subsequent delimitation exercise as determined by Parliament.
- This ensures that the burden/opportunity of reserved constituencies is distributed across the state over time.