New Delhi, April 8
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that his government has always prioritised women’s empowerment, describing the Women’s Reservation Act as a key step towards greater women-led governance in India. Commenting on a newspaper article by Union Minister Annpurna Devi on “Enhancing women’s legislative leadership”, Modi highlighted that increased representation of women strengthens inclusive governance and contributes to a developed India.
In a post on X, he wrote, “Representation must translate into real influence. The government has always prioritised Nari Shakti in every form. With the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam laying the foundation, India is moving towards greater women-led governance. This is also a key pillar of Viksit Bharat.”
The Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, commonly called the Women’s Reservation Act, was passed by Parliament in 2023. It provides for 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies. The law will come into effect after the completion of the delimitation exercise.
Modi recently announced an extension of the Parliament budget session by three days, from 16 to 18 April, to amend the Act for implementation from 2029. Officials said that implementing the law before the delimitation would require a further constitutional amendment.
Modi urged all political parties to support the legislation openly, without political calculations, emphasising that it is a matter of empowering women. He added that parties should work to “win the trust of the country’s mothers and sisters”.
