The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Eighth Amendment) Bill, 2023 was introduced in Lok Sabha on September 19, 2023. The Bill seeks to reserve one-third of all seats for women in Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies. A similar Bill had been introduced in Rajya Sabha in 2008, and was passed by the House two years later. It lapsed after the dissolution of the 14th Lok Sabha in 2014. This note takes a look at participation of women in Parliament and State Legislative Assemblies.
▪ Women’s representation in Lok Sabha has increased from 5% in the first Lok Sabha to 15% in the current Lok Sabha.
▪ Scandinavian countries such as Sweden and Norway, and South Africa have more than 45% women representation in their national legislatures. Japan at 10%, lags behind India.
▪ Currently, 15% of Lok Sabha MPs and 13% of Rajya Sabha MPs are women.
▪ Among parties with more than 10 seats in Lok Sabha, 42% of BJD MPs and 39% of TMC MPs are women. In Rajya Sabha, 17% of INC MPs are women.
▪ TMC and BJD fielded the highest proportion of women candidates. Across parties with 10 or more MPs, women were as likely to win as men.
▪ No state has more than 20% women representation in its Assembly. Chhattisgarh has the highest representation with 18% women MLAs, while Himachal Pradesh has just one woman MLA and Mizoram has none.
▪ Both men and women have more than 75% attendance in Lok Sabha. Attendance and participation in Lok Sabha ensure that members are performing their legislative duties.
▪ There is no significant difference in the educational qualifications of men and women legislators.
