Consider the following statements regarding ‘Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam’:

Provisions will come into effect from the 18th Lok Sabha.
This will be in force for 15 years after becoming an Act.
There are provisions for the reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes Women within the quota reserved for the Scheduled Castes.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1, 2 and 3
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1 and 3 only

Correct Answer: (c) 2 and 3 only

Explanation:

Statement 1: The provisions of the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam will not come into effect from the 18th Lok Sabha. The bill specifies that the reservation will be implemented only after a delimitation exercise is completed, which is scheduled to be held after the first census post-2026. Therefore, the earliest implementation could be in the 2029 general election.
Statement 2: The bill will be in force for 15 years after becoming an Act. This is explicitly mentioned in the bill .
Statement 3: There are provisions for the reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes (SC) women within the quota reserved for the SCs. One-third of the seats reserved for SCs and STs will be allocated to women .

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Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam

Introduction:
- The Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, also known as the Women’s Reservation Bill 2023, aims to reserve one-third of the seats in the Lok Sabha, State legislative assemblies, and the Delhi assembly for women .
Key Features:
- Reservation Period: The reservation will be in force for 15 years after the bill becomes an Act .
- Implementation: The provisions will come into effect only after a delimitation exercise based on the first census conducted after the bill’s commencement. This means the earliest implementation could be in the 2029 general election.
- Sub-Quota for SC/ST: One-third of the seats reserved for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) will be allocated to women .
- Rotation of Seats: The seats reserved for women will be rotated after each delimitation exercise .
- Exclusion of Rajya Sabha and Legislative Councils: The bill does not provide for women’s reservation in the Rajya Sabha and State Legislative Councils.
Historical Context:
- The bill has been introduced multiple times in the past but failed to pass due to lack of consensus. It was first introduced as the 81st Constitutional Amendment Bill in 1996 .
- The current bill, known as the 128th Constitutional Amendment Bill, was introduced in the Lok Sabha on 19 September 2023 and passed by both houses of Parliament in September 2023 .
Current Status:
- The bill has been signed by the President and the gazette notification has been published, making it a law. However, its implementation is contingent upon the completion of the delimitation exercise post-2026 .
Impact:
- Once implemented, the number of women members in the Lok Sabha is expected to rise significantly, from the current 82 to 181 .
- The bill aims to enhance women’s participation in policy-making at both state and national levels, thereby strengthening democracy .