131st Constitutional Amendment Bill for women’s reservation fails in Lok Sabha

The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, aimed at expanding the Lok Sabha and expediting women’s reservation, failed to pass in the Lok Sabha on April 17, 2026, as it could not secure the required special majority. 

Voting Outcome: The Bill received 298 votes in favour and 230 against, falling short of the two-thirds majority requirement under Article 368 of the Constitution of India. 

Bills Taken Up Together: The Lok Sabha considered three key bills:

• Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026
• Delimitation Bill, 2026
• Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026

These were aimed at enabling delimitation and operationalising women’s reservation. 

Key Provisions of the 131st Amendment Bill

• Proposed increase in Lok Sabha strength from 543 to 850 seats
• Distribution:
  • 815 seats for States
  • 35 seats for Union Territories
• Use of latest census data for immediate delimitation

Objective of the Bill: The Bill sought to implement one-third reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and State/UT Assemblies without waiting for future census-based delimitation. 

Link with Women’s Reservation Law: The proposal was connected to the Constitution (106th Amendment) Act 2023 or Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam which provides 33% reservation for women, but only after delimitation based on the first census after its enactment. 

Rationale Behind the Bill: The government argued that waiting for the next census and delimitation would delay effective participation of women, hence the need to act on the latest available census. 

Delimitation Bill, 2026: It proposed the creation of a Delimitation Commission to redraw constituencies and facilitate implementation of women’s reservation. 

Constitutional Provisions on Amendment

• Article 368 of the Constitution of India empowers Parliament to amend the Constitution
• Requires:
  • Majority of total membership
  • Two-thirds majority of members present and voting
• Some amendments need ratification by at least half of State legislatures (for election of President, Supreme Court/High Court powers, extent of the executive power of the Union (Central) Government (73), state’s executive power (Article 162) any of the Lists in the Seventh Schedule, the representation of States in Parliament, or Art 368 itself).
• Bills can be introduced in either House, not in State legislatures
• The President is bound to give assent once duly passed

Rights and Limits of Amendment Power: The Supreme Court in the Kesavananda Bharati case 1973 ruled that Parliament cannot alter the basic structure of the Constitution.