Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam: A Game Changer

By : Justice (Retd.) Poonam A. Bamba

Page No: 178-182

Abstract
This article analyses the transformative potential of the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, 2023 as a landmark step toward gender-inclusive governance in India. It situates the legislation within the historical trajectory of women’s political under-representation and the prolonged legislative struggle to secure reservation for women in Parliament and State Assemblies. Enacted through the 106th Constitutional Amendment, the Act mandates one-third reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and State legislatures, thereby institutionalising affirmative action and advancing constitutional guarantees of equality and democratic participation. The article highlights the potential of increased female representation to enrich policymaking through diverse perspectives, particularly in areas of social welfare and inclusive development. At the same time, it critically examines structural and procedural challenges, including the linkage of implementation to delimitation and census processes, which may delay its operationalisation. While acknowledging these constraints, the study underscores the Act’s normative significance in transforming women’s political empowerment from a policy aspiration into a constitutional mandate. It concludes that the legislation represents a pivotal, though evolving, milestone in strengthening participatory democracy and gender justice in India.

Author
Justice (Retd.) Poonam A. Bamba : Former Judge, High Court of Delhi.