Government Plans 33% Women Reservation with Expanded Lok Sabha Strength

Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal on Thursday clarified in the Lok Sabha that the total strength of the lower House will be increased to 815 under the proposed legislation. Out of these, 272 seats will be reserved for women. Initiating the debate on the Women’s Reservation Bill and delimitation-related proposals, the minister assured the House that the new arrangement would not adversely affect male members or reduce the representation of any state. He emphasized that the restructuring aims to ensure equitable representation without disadvantaging any group. Meghwal explained that the figure of 272 seats directly reflects the 33 percent reservation for women. He further noted that the total number of seats is being increased by nearly 50 percent to accommodate the reservation policy, ensuring that no existing stakeholders feel deprived due to the changes. The minister also highlighted that there will be an internal reservation within the women’s quota for those belonging to Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST). This provision, he said, will be लागू in both the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies. The proposed framework is part of the government’s broader objective to implement women’s reservation ahead of the 2029 general elections. Meghwal’s statement sought to address concerns that the delimitation process could alter the political weight of certain states.