Background of the 106th Amendment Act
On December 9, 1946, the Constituent Assembly of India met for the first time in what is now called the Central Hall of the Old Parliament House. Surprisingly, Sarojini Naidu was the only woman present at all times and sat in the first row facing the presidential dais. Women’s quotas were previously addressed in 1996, 1997, and 1998, but due to the dissolution of the Lok Sabha and the lack of agreement among political parties, the matter could not be advanced further. Concern over women’s underrepresentation in legislative bodies has grown in the last several decades, even though women make up over half of the world’s population.
Achieving quick economic progress is greatly limited by this democratic deficit. As such, it is more and more necessary to give this matter top priority in order to strengthen a political decision-making process that is inclusive, responsive, accountable, participatory, and equitable. Modern Indian culture needs to put the Women’s Reservation Bill, also known as the Constitution 108th Amendment Bill of 2008, into effect.
106th Amendment Act: Women’s Reservation Bill
The 106th Amendment Act is also known as the Women’s Reservation Bill, of 2023. It was presented in the Lok Sabha on September 19, 2023, during the Parliamentary special session. The act aims to provide women with thirty-three percent of the seats in the directly elected Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies. On September 20, the Lok Sabha passed the bill with 454 votes in favor and 2 against. With 214 votes in favor and 0 against, the Rajya Sabha passed the bill on September 21, 2023. This article will look into the 106th Amendment Act of the Indian Constitution, including its provisions, implementation, and criticism.
Table of Content
- Background of the 106th Amendment Act
- Provisions of the 106th Amendment Act
- Implementation of the 106th Amendment Act
- Parliamentary Discussions on the 106th Amendment Act
- Criticism of the 106th Amendment Act
- Questions and Answers on 106th Amendment Act