Parliament Begins Special Budget Session to Expand Lok Sabha to 850 Seats for Women’s Reservation

NEW DELHI, April 16, 2026 — A pivotal three-day special sitting of the extended Budget session of Parliament commenced today, primarily focused on landmark Constitutional amendments required to operationalize the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam.

To facilitate the 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies—a mandate passed in 2023—the government has introduced three specific amendment Bills.

These legislative steps are designed to restructure the parliamentary framework to ensure the reservation policy is effectively implemented across the nation’s legislative bodies.

At the heart of these discussions is the constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, which proposes a significant expansion of the Lok Sabha to a total of 850 seats. Under this new proposal, the number of members chosen by direct election from state constituencies would be capped at 815.

Furthermore, the Bill stipulates that no more than 35 members will represent the Union Territories, with their selection process to be determined by Parliamentary law.

This expansion is viewed as a critical technical adjustment to accommodate women’s seat quotas without reducing the existing representation of other segments, marking a historic shift in India’s democratic structure.