Women’s Reservation Bill becomes law after President Murmu's nod

New Delhi: President Droupadi Murmu handed the Women's Reservation Bill her approval on Friday, putting it into law days after Parliament passed it. In accordance with the legislation, women are provided with a 33 per cent reservation in the Lok Sabha and state Assemblies.

As several proposed constitutional amendments have not yet been approved by Parliament, even though it was tabled in the Lok Sabha as the Constitution (128th) Amendment Bill, it will now be known as the Constitution (106th Amendment) Act, the New Indian Express reported.

“It shall come into force on such date as the Central Government may, by notification in the official gazette, appoint,” read the Law Ministry notification. The reservation won't likely be in place for the 2024 elections because it won't be put into effect until after the next census and the ensuing redrawing of Lok Sabha and Assembly constituencies.

The seats that will be designated for women will be determined by the delimitation exercise planned for after 2026. The bill specifies that the quota for women in the Lok Sabha and assemblies shall last for 15 years, with the possibility of an extension by Parliament. A historic accomplishment, the measure was approved by both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha last week at a special session of Parliament.