“Women as a class neither belong to a minority group nor are they regarded as forming a backward class.” In the light of this statement, discuss the evolution of women’s reservation from local bodies to Parliament. (2026, 10 Marks)

Paper	GS Paper 2
Word Limit	150 words
Syllabus Topic	Indian Polity – Representation; Women Empowerment

Women’s Reservation in India: Model Answer

Women’s reservation in India began in local bodies and reached Parliament only in 2023. Women are not a minority or a backward class, so the Constituent Assembly gave them no reserved seats, but Article 15(3) allows special provisions for women.

Local Bodies

• The 73rd and 74th Amendments (1992) reserve at least one-third seats for women in Panchayats and Municipalities (Articles 243D, 243T), with the same share of chairperson posts.
• Many states now give 50 per cent reservation.

Parliament

• Women’s reservation bills, first introduced in 1996, lapsed repeatedly.
• The Constitution (106th Amendment) Act, 2023 (Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam) reserves one-third of Lok Sabha and State Assembly seats, including seats for SC/ST women.
• It applies after the first Census and delimitation following the Act, for 15 years.

Conclusion

Representation has moved from the grassroots to the national level. Timely delimitation and ending proxy rule by “sarpanch-pati” will turn SDG 5 (gender equality) into real power.

Value Addition: Women’s Reservation Facts

• The Committee on the Status of Women in India (Towards Equality, 1974) first pushed for reserved seats for women in local bodies.
• The 2023 Act inserts Articles 330A and 332A, which reserve seats in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies, and also covers the Delhi Assembly.
• Article 15(3) is the base for all special laws for women, and the Supreme Court upheld it as a valid exception to equality.
• 74 women were elected to the Lok Sabha in 2024 (about 13.6 per cent), still far below one-third.
• Proxy leadership by male relatives is a known weakness of the Panchayat quota. Training and Mahila Sabhas help women lead on their own.
• Read the constitutional text on the Legislative Department website. Also read our model answers on cabinet system and parliamentary supremacy and local bodies and good governance.

Related PYQs

• Analyse the role of local bodies in providing good governance at local level and bring out the pros and cons merging the rural local bodies with the urban local bodies. (2024)
• Examine the gender-specific challenges faced by female public servants (2024, GS4)

FAQs on Women’s Reservation in India

Which GS paper covers women’s reservation?

It comes under GS Paper 2 (Polity and representation). Women’s empowerment can also appear in GS Paper 1 (Indian Society).

Is the 33 per cent reservation for women in Parliament in force?

The Act is passed, but it takes effect only after the first Census and delimitation held after its commencement. Check the latest government notifications for the current status.

Which Articles deal with women’s reservation in local bodies?

Article 243D covers Panchayats and Article 243T covers Municipalities. Both reserve not less than one-third seats for women.

Why did the Constituent Assembly not reserve seats for women?

Many women members of the Assembly argued that women did not need reserved seats and that equality in voting and candidature was enough. Women were also not seen as a minority or a backward class, so Articles 330 and 332 reserved seats only for SCs and STs. Article 15(3) was kept to allow special laws for women.

What is “sarpanch-pati” and why does it matter?

It describes a male relative who works as the real decision-maker while the elected woman representative holds the post only on paper. It weakens the purpose of reservation. Training, Mahila Sabhas, and transparent public meetings help elected women lead on their own.

What are the main arguments for and against women’s reservation in Parliament?

Supporters say it corrects the low share of women (about 13.6 per cent of the Lok Sabha in 2024) and brings women’s issues into law-making. Critics say reservation may create proxy leadership and that party-level ticket reform would work better. Both views are useful in the mains answer as a balanced conclusion.