The Women’s Reservation Bill, aimed at fast-tracking 33% reservation for women in Parliament, failed to secure the required two-thirds majority in the Lok Sabha on April 17, 2026.
Vote Breakdown:
Out of 489 MPs who voted, 278 supported the bill while 211 opposed it, falling short of the roughly 360 votes needed for a constitutional amendment. The NDA coalition, with around 293 MPs, couldn’t muster enough cross-party support despite pushing for quicker implementation without a new census.
Political Fallout:
Opposition parties resisted, citing trust issues and demanding separation from delimitation exercises that could expand Lok Sabha seats to 816.
This development marks a significant pause in a reform that has been debated for decades, leaving the future of women’s reservation in Parliament uncertain—for now.
