India’s Parliament is set to vote on a series of key bills aimed at expanding legislative representation and advancing a quota for women lawmakers, amid strong criticism from the opposition.
The government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has proposed measures to accelerate the implementation of a 33% reservation for women in Parliament and state assemblies, originally planned for the 2029 general elections.
The proposed legislation includes a constitutional amendment to increase the number of seats in the Lok Sabha, the lower house of Parliament, as well as a delimitation bill to redraw electoral boundaries based on population data.
Opposition parties have raised concerns over linking the women’s quota to the redrawing of constituencies, alleging it could be used to influence electoral outcomes ahead of future polls.
The bills were debated during a lengthy parliamentary session, with both the government and opposition sharply divided over the proposals.