The President signs the Women’s Reservation Bill into law

President Droupadi Murmu gave his approval to the Women’s Reservation Bill a few days after it was approved at the extraordinary session of Parliament. With 454 members voting in favor, the Bill was approved in a historically significant vote. In the Lok Sabha and the legislatures of the states and Union Territories (UTs), the Bill aims to reserve one-third of the seats.

The president granted her approval on Thursday, according to a notice from the law ministry that was released on Friday. It shall thereafter be referred to as the Constitution (106th Amendment) Act. Its provision states that “it shall come into force on such date as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint.”

The women’s reservation is unlikely to be in place for the 2024 Lok Sabha election since the Bill, which has already been made into law, is only anticipated to go into effect after a new census and delimitation. According to Home Minister Amit Shah, the census and delimitation would start shortly after the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, while reservation for women will go into effect after the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.

The Bill was mainly supported by opposition parties, however they expressed concern about the lengthy implementation process. Sonia Gandhi, a senior member of the Congress, also pushed for the inclusion of a caste census and a sub-quota for SC, ST, and OBCs in the women’s quota bill. “The patience of the Indian lady is like the ocean. She has worked tirelessly for everyone’s advancement…Any delay in putting the women’s reservation law into effect would be a grave disservice to Indian women, according to Gandhi.