President gives assent, Women’s Bill now a law
The women’s reservation bill, which seeks to reserve 33% seats for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, has become a law after receiving assent from President Droupadi Murmu, the law ministry said in a notification on Friday.
However, the law will take some time before being implemented as the next census and the subsequent delimitation exercise (or redrawing of Lok Sabha and assembly constituencies) will ascertain the particular seats being earmarked for women.
“It shall come into force on such date as the central government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint,” according to the provision of the law.
The law ministry said that the president gave her assent to the bill, which was passed by Parliament last week, on Thursday.
“The following Act of Parliament (the constitution one hundred and sixth amendment) received the assent of the President on the September 28, 2023,” the notification added.
The law will now officially be known as the Constitution (106th Amendment) Act.