2023 Women's Reservation Act Implemented: Following the Issuance of the Notification, PM Modi States—"Nari Shakti is the Identity of a Strong India."

The Women's Reservation Act, 2023, has come into force across the country. The Central Government has also issued a notification to this effect. In this context, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Friday, profusely lauded the nation's 'Nari Shakti' (women's power) and described 'Matri Shakti' (maternal power) as the true identity of a strong India.

Meanwhile, in a series of posts on 'X' titled 'Subhashitam,' Prime Minister Modi wrote: "Our Nari Shakti is the hallmark of an empowered India. Through their unwavering resolve, dedication, and spirit of service, the mothers, sisters, and daughters of our nation are today enhancing the glory of India in every sphere." Along with this, PM Modi also shared two Sanskrit verses.

This Act has now officially come into effect as of April 16, 2026. Under this legislation, 33 percent of the seats in the Lok Sabha and the State Legislative Assemblies will be reserved for women. Parliament had approved the 'Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam' (Women's Reservation Act) in September 2023. It is being hailed as a significant step towards enhancing women's participation in governance.

However, according to this 2023 legislation, the benefits of this reservation will not be available before 2029, as its implementation has been linked to the delimitation process scheduled to take place following the 2027 census. The three bills currently under discussion in the Lok Sabha aim to implement women's reservation starting from 2029. According to officials, despite the enactment of the law, this reservation cannot be implemented in the current Lok Sabha, as the completion of the delimitation process—based on the next census—is a prerequisite for its application.

Three key bills related to this matter are currently being debated in Parliament. These include a proposal to increase the total number of seats in the Lok Sabha to 850. Prime Minister Modi assured the House that no state would face discrimination during the delimitation process. He termed this a "Modi Guarantee" and asserted that this reservation is the rightful entitlement of 'Nari Shakti.' Home Minister Amit Shah also clarified that the number of seats allocated to the southern states would not be reduced; citing specific figures, he stated that the representation of South India would actually increase from 129 seats to 195 seats. The number of seats in Tamil Nadu alone is expected to increase from 39 to 59.