Centre plans 33% women’s reservation before 2029 polls: Sources

The central government is preparing to implement 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies ahead of the 2029 general elections. This move will follow a nationwide census in 2027 and a subsequent delimitation exercise based on updated population data.

The reservation plan is in line with the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, passed in 2023, which mandates one-third of legislative seats be reserved for women. However, its rollout is legally bound to follow the first census conducted after the law's enactment — scheduled for 2027 in two phases, covering snow-bound areas in 2026 and the rest in 2027.

Following the census, the Election Commission will redraw the boundaries and number of seats in each parliamentary and assembly constituency. This delimitation process is key to ensuring equal population representation, and it will directly affect how the reservation is implemented.

Southern states like Tamil Nadu have expressed opposition, fearing loss of parliamentary representation as northern states with higher population growth could gain more seats. Experts predict a possible seat shift of 31 in favour of northern and central states, while southern states may lose up to 26.