THE CONSTITUTION (ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-FIRST AMENDMENT) BILL, 2026

What does this law do?

This law amends the Constitution to link the reservation of seats for women in the House of the People and State Legislative Assemblies to the latest census data, enabling the implementation of one-third reservation for women after a delimitation exercise based on the most recent census figures.

Who it affects

The law affects the House of the People, State Legislative Assemblies, the National Capital Territory of Delhi, and Union territories of Puducherry and Jammu and Kashmir.

Key provisions

• Amends articles 55, 81, 82, 170, 330, and 332 to define 'population' as the population from the latest published census.
• Replaces the reference to the 1971 census with the latest census for determining seat allocation.
• Provides for reservation of seats for women in the House of the People and Legislative Assemblies after delimitation based on the latest census.
• Specifies that the reservation of seats for women will cease after 15 years from the commencement of the 106th Amendment Act, 2023, unless extended by Parliament.
• Requires that reserved seats for women be allotted by rotation to different constituencies.

Points worth noting

• This is a constitutional amendment.
• It repeals the reference to the 1971 census in seat allocation provisions.
• It links the implementation of women's reservation to the latest census-based delimitation exercise.