New Delhi, Sept 22: The women's reservation bill sailed through the Rajya Sabha on Thursday. The Bill, which aims to make 33% reservation for women in Lok Sabha and state assemblies for a period of 15 years from the date of implementation, now needs the President's assent to become a law.

 

All 215 members present in the Upper House of the Parliament voted in favour of it on Thursday. There were no abstentions and no negative votes. With this, the 'Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam' became the first bill to be passed by Parliament after it shifted to the new building on Tuesday.

 

 

Notably, the Women's Reservation Bill was passed in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, with 454 MPs voting in favour of it and only two voting against it.

 

 

The Rajya Sabha witnessed around 11 hours of debate, broadly over two aspects. The first was timeline. The proposed reservation will take effect following the next delimitation exercise, which will be carried out after the Census (delayed because of the Covid-19 pandemic) is published in 2026. So, it is speculated that the law is unlikely to be implemented before the 2029 Lok Sabha polls.

 

Most Opposition leaders asked for an amendment in the bill to ensure that it is implemented at the earliest. Rajya Sabha member Kapil Sibal demanded a statement from the prime minister and home minister assuring the House about completing the process of implementing the women's reservation bill by 2029.

 

The other was inclusion of an OBC sub-quota within women's reservation. Several Opposition leaders on Thursday sought an amendment in this regard as well.

 

 

Earlier, before the process of voting started in Rajya Sabha, PM Modi thanked all parties for consensus over the women's reservation bill.

 

"A defining moment in our nation's democratic journey. Congratulations to 140 crore Indians. I thank all the Rajya Sabha MPs who voted for the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam. Such unanimous support is indeed gladdening. With the passage of the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam in Parliament, we usher in an era of stronger representation and empowerment for the women of India," PM Modi said on X, formerly known as Twitter.

 

"This is not merely a legislation; it is a tribute to the countless women who have made our nation. India has been enriched by their resilience and contributions. As we celebrate today, we are reminded of the strength, courage, and indomitable spirit of all the women of our nation. This historic step is a commitment to ensuring their voices are heard even more effectively," he added.