At a glance
Structure of Parliament: Bicameral
Are there legislated quotas...
-
No
for the Single/Lower House?
-
No
for the Upper House?
-
Yes
at the Sub-national level?
Are there voluntary quotas...
-
No
adopted by political parties?
India
(Republic of India)
Quota at the Sub-National Level
| Quota type: | Reserved seats |
| Legal source | Details |
|---|
| Quota type: Reserved seats |
Constitution |
33 percent of seats in all local bodies (panchayats and municipalities) are reserved for women according to the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments. This includes the provision that 33 percent of the seats reserved for the scheduled classes etc shall be women. |
| Legal sanctions for non-compliance: |
N/A |
No data available |
| Rank order/placement rules: |
N/A |
No data available |
Sources | Additional information | Contact us
Last updated 2010-08-23
Since 1996 the Women's Reservation Bill has been discussed repeatedly with various reformulations, but it remains pending.
Both the Constitution (Eighty-first Amendment) Bill, 1996 and the Constitution (Eighty-fourth Amendment) Bill, 1998 lapsed with the dissolution of their respective Lok Sabhas. Later, the Constitution (Eighty-fifth Amendment) Bill, 1999 was introduced in Lok Sabha, but it was also unsuccessful.
Yet, another attempt was made by tabling the Constitution (One Hundred and Eighth Amendment) Bill, 2008 with the purpose to reserve at least one-third of the total number of seats in the Lok Sabha (House of the People) and in the state Legislative Assemblies for women. It also provides that one-third of the total number of seats reserved under clause (2) of article 330, which refers to the existing quota for Schedule Castes and Scheduled Tribes, to be reserved for women belonging to one of these groups, as the case may be. Reserved seats may be allotted by rotation to different constituencies in the state or union territory, to be determined by law. The reservation of seats for women shall cease to exist or expire after 15 years of the commencement of the Amendment Act.
The Women's Reservation Bill was approved by the Rajya Sabha (Upper House) on 9 March 2010. However, before it is legislated, the Bill must also be tabled in the Lok Sabha and approved with two-thirds majority, which has not happened yet.
The Constitution of the Republic of India 1950 (as amended to 2005), article 234 D.
The Constitution (One Hundred and Eighth Amendment) Bill, 2008 (As Introduced in the Rajya Sabha).
The Constitution (One Hundred and Eighth Amendment) Bill, 2008 (As Passed by the Rajya Sabha on 9 March 2010).
Election results: http://www.ipu.org/parline
CLRA Policy Brief 2008: Women's Reservation: a Long Delayed ad a Much Needed Step http://www.clraindia.org/include/women.pdf
