India’s Parliament is preparing to vote on a series of major bills aimed at expanding legislative representation and advancing a quota for women lawmakers, amid strong opposition criticism.
The government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has proposed measures to fast-track the implementation of a 33% reservation for women in Parliament and state assemblies, which was initially scheduled for the 2029 general elections.
The proposed legislation includes a constitutional amendment to increase the number of seats in the Lok Sabha, as well as a delimitation bill to redraw electoral boundaries based on updated population data.
Opposition parties have raised concerns over linking the women’s quota to constituency delimitation, arguing that it could be used to influence electoral outcomes ahead of future elections.
The bills were debated during an extended parliamentary session, with sharp divisions emerging between the government and the opposition over the proposed reforms.
