The Rajya Sabha on Thursday passed the historic Bill that will reserve one-third of seats for women in Lok Sabha and state Assemblies, following thorough debate among MPs across party lines. The Bill was passed with majority voting by all the members of the House: 215 votes in favour and no one against it. Concluding the discussion on the Bill — the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Eighth Amendment) Bill, 2023 — Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “This bill will lead to a new confidence in the people of the country. It also shows the positive thinking of all the political parties which will give new energy to women’s empowerment.”
Clearing the decks for the landmark legislation, the Lower House Wednesday passed the women’s reservation Bill with near unanimity: 454 votes in favour and two from the AIMIM against it. Wrapping up a discussion on the Bill, Union Home Minister Shah had assured the Lower House of a “transparent process” to identify seats to be reserved for women.
On Women's Reservation Bill, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in the Rajya Sabha, "This bill will lead to a new confidence in the people of the country. All members and political parties have played a significant role in empowering women and enhancing 'Nari Shakti'. Let us give the country a strong message."
Parliament Special Session News Live: "Exercise of delimitation will be done to identify the number of seats to be reserved for women in Lok Sabha and legislative assemblies. The reservation will cease after 15 years of being implemented," Nirmala Sitharaman in Rajya Sabha on Women's Reservation Bill. She further said that the Bill provides for reservation and rotation of seats. "One particular feature of the bill that I want to point out is that this bill provides for reservation and rotation of seats," says Nirmala Sitharaman. “After the Bill is enacted, and comes into operation, and thereafter that, the first Census takes place, and the relevant figures for that Census are published, a fresh delimitation exercise shall be undertaken,” she said.
The Bill on 33 per cent reservation for women in Lok Sabha and state Assemblies enters Rajya Sabha Thursday and is set to sail through given how different the Upper House is 13 years on. For one, the SP, one of the architects of the opposition to the Bill in 2010, has changed its stand, reports Indian Express
As the women's reservation bill was passed in the Lok Sabha, marking a legislative landmark for the country, Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLC K Kavitha, one of the key advocates for a legislation providing a fairer representation of women in law-making bodies, on Wednesday called it a major step in ensuring stronger and more significant participation of women in the political process. However, while hailing the passage of the women's quota Bill, she added that the exclusion of an "OBC sub-quota" from the draft legislation was "painful"
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday said that women empowerment was not a political issue for the BJP but an idea that is intrinsic to its work culture. Shah made the remarks during a debate on the draft women's reservation Bill in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday. The Bill, which proposes 33 per cent reservation for women in Lok Sabha and state assemblies, was passed with a brute majority in the Lower House on Wednesday.
 "LIVE: RS passes Bill to reserve 33% of seats for women in LS, Assemblies")
