The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, which sought to expand Lok Sabha seats and implement 33% women’s reservation, failed in the Lok Sabha on April 17, 2026, as it did not secure the required two-thirds majority—298 MPs voted in favor while 230 opposed, falling short of the 352 votes needed.
Key Facts About the Bill
- Bill Name: Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026
- Objective:
- Operationalize the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, 2023 (106th Amendment Act).
- Reserve 33% of seats for women in Lok Sabha and State Assemblies.
- Expand Lok Sabha seats from 543 to up to 850 after delimitation.
- Voting Outcome:
- For: 298 MPs
- Against: 230 MPs
- Required: 352 votes (two-thirds majority of 528 present and voting)
- Result: Bill defeated in Lok Sabha.
Why Did the Bill Fail?
- Two-thirds majority hurdle: Constitutional amendments require a supermajority, which the government could not secure.
- Opposition unity: Major opposition parties opposed linking women’s reservation to delimitation and seat expansion, arguing it delayed immediate implementation.
- Political timing: Critics claimed the government rushed the bill during a special session without adequate consensus-building.
- Regional concerns: Some states feared losing representation after delimitation, making them reluctant to support the bill.
Political Significance
- First major legislative defeat for the Modi government in 12 years.
- Women’s reservation remains unimplemented despite being passed in principle in 2023.
- Future uncertainty: Without this amendment, the reservation may not apply in the 2029 elections, unless a fresh bill is introduced and passed.
