NEW DELHI: Both Houses of Parliament were adjourned on April 2, with the government planning to reconvene the session on April 16 to introduce a significant legislative proposal that could expand the strength of the Lok Sabha from 543 to 816 seats.
The proposed move is closely connected to the implementation of the women’s reservation law, formally known as the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam. Once implemented, the law will reserve one third of the seats in the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies for women, a step expected to substantially increase female representation in India’s political system.
If the Lok Sabha’s strength rises to 816, approximately 273 seats would be set aside for women under the reservation provision. The expansion would also change the majority mark in the lower house to 409 members, reflecting the larger size of the chamber.
The proposal represents a major structural reform in India’s parliamentary framework and would mark the first increase in the Lok Sabha’s total strength in about five decades. The reform is being considered as part of a broader effort to align parliamentary representation with population growth while also enabling the long pending implementation of women’s reservation.
To make the changes possible, the government is expected to introduce a constitutional amendment along with modifications to the delimitation framework. These steps would allow constituencies to be redrawn and accommodate the increased number of parliamentary seats.
Since the ruling coalition does not have enough members on its own to ensure passage of the amendment, efforts are underway to secure broader political support. Discussions have been held with several regional parties and allies in an attempt to build consensus for the legislation.
The Budget Session of the Indian Parliament, which began on January 28, concluded on April 2. Instead of ending the session permanently, Parliament has been adjourned to allow the government to return later in April with the proposed bill. If approved, the new arrangement could come into force before the 2029 general elections, with similar provisions likely to apply to state assemblies across the country.
