Government Considers Delimitation Using 2011 Census to Accelerate Womens Reservation Act Implementation

The government is proposing amendments that would base the selection of parliamentary seats on the data from the 2011 Census. According to sources, this change would result in an increase in the total number of seats in Parliament to 816. Of these, 273 seats would be specifically reserved for women, reflecting a commitment to enhancing female representation in governance.

This proposal comes amid ongoing discussions about electoral reform and representation in the legislative framework. The decision to utilize 2011 Census data for seat allocation has sparked debate, as the next Census was conducted in 2021, and awaiting updated data could impact the demographics represented in Parliament. Advocates argue that an increase in womens seats is a significant step toward gender equality in political participation. The government has yet to announce a timeline for the proposed amendments or address potential concerns regarding the use of outdated demographic data.