--- title: "Modi urges parties to back 33% women’s quota; Congress questions delay" url: https://projectchintan.com/article/modi-calls-womens-quota-33-percent-j7xqa publisher: Project Chintan author: Project Chintan Newsroom section: Politics published: 2026-08-15T08:32:18.723Z modified: 2026-08-15T11:00:07.035Z language: en-IN --- # Modi urges parties to back 33% women’s quota; Congress questions delay Prime Minister Modi pressed political parties to back a 33% women’s reservation in Parliament and state assemblies. Congress and Punjab leaders countered, citing the NDA’s 12-year tenure and prior bills, while the 2023 Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam remains unimplemented after a constitutional hurdle. ## Key takeaways - Modi called on all political parties to back a 33% reservation for women in legislatures. - The Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam aimed to enhance women’s representation but remains unimplemented after a 2023 bill failed in the Lok Sabha. - Congress criticized the NDA for not enacting the reservation during its 12-year tenure, citing linkage to census/delimitation concerns. ## What Happened During his Independence Day address from the Red Fort, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged all political parties to support a 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies. He noted the aim of the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, passed in Parliament, to strengthen women’s representation but said political factors over the past four decades had blocked the effort from becoming law. The Congress responded with a counterpoint, asking why the governing alliance could not enact and implement women’s reservation during its 12 years in power, and referencing the 2023 Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, which was linked to census and delimitation processes. Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring suggested that since women are equal stakeholders in democracy, 50% reservation could be considered, while Congress spokesperson Ragini Nayak questioned what prevented the government from moving ahead with the policy despite broad support. ## Why It Matters The push for a 33% quota in national and state legislatures highlights ongoing debates over women’s political representation in India. The stance from Modi aligns with a stated policy goal, while opposition voices emphasize missed opportunities and the need to address procedural hurdles linked to constitutional amendments and delimitation. ## Background The Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam was passed in Parliament in 2023 but could not be implemented after the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill failed to secure the required two-thirds majority in the Lok Sabha on April 17. The legislation had been tied to census updates and delimitation in past discussions. ## Key Facts - Modi called for 33% women’s representation in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies during Independence Day remarks at the Red Fort. - The Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, passed in Parliament, aimed to strengthen women’s political representation but was not implemented following a failed constitutional bill in the Lok Sabha on April 17. - The 2023 bill was connected to census and delimitation issues in its path to implementation. - Congress spokesperson Ragini Nayak questioned why the NDA could not implement women’s reservation during its 12-year rule. - Punjab Congress President Amarinder Singh Raja Warring suggested 50% reservation for women, citing past Congress government actions. ## What Happens Next The article reflects political rhetoric and footnotes about constitutional and parliamentary obstacles. No immediate, official schedule or next step is stated beyond Modi’s call for cross-party support and the ongoing debate over implementing the 33% quota. --- Canonical: https://projectchintan.com/article/modi-calls-womens-quota-33-percent-j7xqa Reported from: Multiple Sources