India's Constitution (106th Amendment) Act, 2023 — widely celebrated as the Women's Reservation Bill — reserves 33% of seats in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies for women. But a provision in the Act specifies that the reserved seats will be notified only after the completion of a delimitation exercise based on the next Census. With the Census not expected before 2026 and delimitation not expected before 2029, the earliest women's reservation can be operationalised is the general election of 2034. In the 2024 general election, 74 women were elected to Lok Sabha — 13.6% of the 543 seats.
Women in Indian Politics — Where Things Stand
- 74 women in Lok Sabha 2024 — 13.6% of total seats
- India rank: 148 of 185 countries (IPU, April 2026)
- Global average: 27.2% women parliamentarians
- Rwanda: 61.3% (world's highest)
- Pakistan: 20%, Bangladesh: 21%, Nepal: 33.6% (all higher than India)
- 33% reservation law passed: September 2023; not yet operationalised
“We passed the law. We celebrated. And then we inserted a provision that means it will not apply for at least 10 years. This is not reservation — it is the illusion of reservation.”
— Kavita Krishnan, women's rights activist and political analyst
13.6%
Women in Lok Sabha 2024
148th
India's global rank
27.2%
Global average
2034
Earliest implementation year
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Meera Pillai
Gender & Society Reporter
Meera covers women's rights, social justice and community action. Based in Kochi, she has reported from all 36 states and UTs.