PM Modi calls women's reservation in legislative bodies 'the need of the hour'
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on 9 April 2026 that reservation for women in legislative bodies is the need of the hour and any delay would be deeply unfortunate; Article 330A reserves about one-third of directly elected Lok Sabha seats for women.
Summary
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on 9 April 2026 that reservation for women in legislative bodies is the need of the hour and would make Indian democracy more vibrant and participative, adding that any delay would be deeply unfortunate. He set out his views in an op-ed article. Under Article 330A of the Constitution, as nearly as may be one-third of the seats filled by direct election to the House of the People are reserved for women, including one-third of the seats reserved for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes; Article 332A makes similar provision for State Legislative Assemblies. Article 334A says these provisions come into effect after a delimitation exercise based on the first census taken after the commencement of the Constitution (One Hundred and Sixth Amendment) Act, 2023, and cease after fifteen years from such commencement.
Key facts
- Statement
- 9 April 2026, PM Narendra Modi (op-ed)
- Lok Sabha
- Article 330A: ~one-third of directly elected seats for women
- State Assemblies
- Article 332A
- Start
- Article 334A: after delimitation based on first census after the 106th Amendment Act, 2023
- Duration
- 15 years from commencement (Article 334A(1))
Practice MCQs 3 questions
Article 330A of the Constitution of India provides for reservation of seats for women in which body?
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Correct answer: C — House of the People
Article 330A is titled 'Reservation of seats for women in the House of the People'. Article 332A covers State Legislative Assemblies.
Consider the following statements about reservation for women in legislatures: 1. As nearly as may be, one-third of the seats to be filled by direct election to the House of the People are to be reserved for women. 2. Under Article 334A, the reservation takes effect immediately on the commencement of the amending Act, without any delimitation exercise. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Statement 1 reflects Article 330A(3). Statement 2 is wrong: Article 334A says the provisions come into effect after a delimitation exercise based on the first census taken after the 106th Amendment Act, 2023.
Article 334A links the start of women's reservation to the first census taken after the commencement of which Constitution Amendment Act?
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Correct answer: A — One Hundred and Sixth Amendment Act, 2023
Article 334A refers to the first census taken after the commencement of the Constitution (One Hundred and Sixth Amendment) Act, 2023.