The Constitution (One Hundred and Thirty-First Amendment) Bill, 2026 — which sought to implement women’s reservation from the 2029 general elections — was defeated in the Lok Sabha on Friday, April 17, 2026, after failing to secure the constitutionally required two‑thirds majority. In a division held during debate on three linked bills, 298 members voted in favour and 230 opposed the amendment, Speaker Om Birla announced. “The Constitution (131st Amendment) Amendment Bill did not pass as it did not achieve a 2/3 majority during voting in the House,” ANI quoted Birla as saying.
A Constitution Amendment Bill must obtain the support of not less than two‑thirds of the members present and voting to be passed in the House; the source also notes that adoption of certain clauses and motions may require a majority of the total membership in addition to the two‑thirds threshold. Amendments affecting vital issues listed in the proviso to Article 368(2) must, after passage by Parliament, also be ratified by not less than one‑half of state legislatures.
The Lok Sabha resumed discussion on three bills on April 17: the Constitution (One Hundred and Thirty‑First Amendment) Bill, 2026; the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026; and the Delimitation Bill, 2026. After the amendment bill failed, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said the government had no intention of pursuing the two other bills further.
Home Minister Amit Shah, who had replied to a marathon debate on the trio of bills, criticised opposition parties for their stance on the women’s reservation proposal and warned that they would “face the wrath of women” when contesting future elections. The defeat leaves the government’s plan to reserve seats for women from the 2029 polls in limbo unless it can secure broader parliamentary support and, where required, state ratification.
Original Source: https://www.firstpost.com/india/womens-reservation-bill-defeated-in-lok-sabha-after-failing-to-secure-two-thirds-majority-14001696.html
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Publish Date: 2026-04-17 21:00:00
