Parliament Special Session Highlights: After 11-hour debate, Nari Shakti Vandhan (Women's Reservation) Bill passed in Rajya Sabha
Parliament Special Session Highlights: The Nari Shakti Vandhan Abhiniyam (Women's Reservation Bill) now requires the approval of a majority of state assemblies, after seeing unanimous clearance in the Rajya Sabha, following its passage in the Lok Sabha with 454 in favour out of the total 456 members present. The passage of the Bill in both the lower and the upper houses came during a special, five-day session of Parliament, which began on Monday, September 18. The Women's Reservation Bill became the first to be introduced in the new Parliament building, inaugurated on Tuesday, September 19. The old Parliament building will be called 'Samvidhan Sadan' (Constitution House), Prime Minister Narendra Modi said before he led all the Members of Parliament to the new building on Tuesday.
The passage of the Women's Reservation Bill has ignited hope among stakeholders about attaining gender equality in the country's political landscape, especially at the policy-making level. The Bill seeks to reserve one-third of the seats in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies for women.
The 128th Constitution Amendment Bill, referred to as the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, will be implemented after a delimitation exercise to redraw parliamentary and assembly constituencies based on the census which the government has said will be commissioned next year.
Catch all the highlights from the five-day-long special session of Parliament here:
Parliament Special Session Highlights: The Nari Shakti Vandhan Abhiniyam (Women's Reservation Bill) now requires the approval of a majority of state assemblies, after seeing unanimous clearance in the Rajya Sabha, following its passage in the Lok Sabha with 454 in favour out of the total 456 members present. The passage of the Bill in both the lower and the upper houses came during a special, five-day session of Parliament, which began on Monday, September 18. The Women's Reservation Bill became the first to be introduced in the new Parliament building, inaugurated on Tuesday, September 19. The old Parliament building will be called 'Samvidhan Sadan' (Constitution House), Prime Minister Narendra Modi said before he led all the Members of Parliament to the new building on Tuesday.
The passage of the Women's Reservation Bill has ignited hope among stakeholders about attaining gender equality in the country's political landscape, especially at the policy-making level. The Bill seeks to reserve one-third of the seats in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies for women.
The 128th Constitution Amendment Bill, referred to as the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, will be implemented after a delimitation exercise to redraw parliamentary and assembly constituencies based on the census which the government has said will be commissioned next year.
Catch all the highlights from the five-day-long special session of Parliament here:
Latest Updates
Nari Shakti Vandan Bill a proclamation of New India's democratic commitment: PM Narendra Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi says that the Nari Shakti Vandan Bill is not an ordinary law but a proclamation of New India's democratic commitment.
“The Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam is not an ordinary law; this is a proclamation of the New India's democratic commitment. This is evidence of Modi's guarantee of women-led development," says the PM while speaking at the Nari Shakti Vandan-Abhinandan programme at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi.
The PM congratulates all women of the country on the historic move of passing the Women's Reservation Bill with an overwhelming majority in both Houses of Parliament.
"Today, I congratulate all women of the country. Yesterday and the day before, we witnessed the making of a new history. It is our fortune that crores of people gave us the opportunity to create that history... This decision and this day will be discussed for many generations to come. I congratulate the entire country for passing the 'Nari Shakti Vandan Act' with an overwhelming majority in both the houses of Parliament,” the PM adds.
The Women's Reservation Bill seeks to guarantee 33 per cent quota for women in Lok Sabha and state assemblies.
Parliament Special Session LIVE | OBC leaders to meet on September 23 to explore ways to seek reservation in Women's Reservation Bill, says Uma Bharti
Senior BJP leader Uma Bharti took to microblogging site X (formerly X) to say that leaders from Other Backward Classes have agreed to a “big” meeting on September 23 to find ways to seek quota for OBCs in the just-cleared Women's Reservation Bill.
The former Madhya Pradesh CM did not mention the time and venue of the meeting of the OBC leaders on Saturday.
Parliament Special Session LIVE | JP Nadda says passage of Women's Reservation Bill in Parliament a historic moment
BJP chief JP Nadda describes the passage of the Women's Reservation Bill in Parliament as "a historic moment" that "will be remembered for a long period of time".
"For all of us, this is a historic moment that will be registered in history in times to come and remembered for a very long time. We are fortunate to be a witness to such a moment," he says at the BJP headquarters.
आज नई दिल्ली स्थित भाजपा केंद्रीय कार्यालय विस्तार में आयोजित 'नारी शक्ति वंदन-अभिनंदन' कार्यक्रम में हमारी महिला कार्यकर्ताओं ने हर्षोल्लास के साथ आदरणीय प्रधानमंत्री श्री @narendramodi जी का स्वागत एवं अभिनंदन किया।
यह प्रधानमंत्री जी की दूरदर्शी सोच और दृढ़ निश्चय का परिणाम… pic.twitter.com/ICbVSJ2Jhe
— Jagat Prakash Nadda (@JPNadda) September 22, 2023
Parliament Special Session LIVE | Here is how Dharmendra Pradhan describes the passage of Women's Reservation Bill
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan calls the passage of the Nari Shakti Vandana Bill as a "milestone" in the 21st century.
"This is an achievement for the country...The subject is not to take special credit, the subject is to understand the needs of society...The subject is to make a decision...This bill would be a milestone in the 21st century in the world...Its reference would be taken in other democracies of the world," the minister tells news agency ANI.
On Thursday, the upper house of Parliament, the Rajya Sabha, passed the Women's Reservation Bill, which provides 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha as well as the state legislative assemblies, unanimously with 214 members voting in support and none against. On the previous day, the bill passed the legislative test in the Lok Sabha, with a majority of 454 votes in favour and two against.
Parliament Special Session LIVE | 'Yesterday was a very special day for our democracy,' tweets PM Modi
The Prime Minister shares images capturing a few historic moments from the previous day when Parliament moved its first proceedings to a new building. PM Modi announced 'Samvidhan Sadan (Constitution House)' as the new name for the old building, as he led Members of Parliament to the new building on foot on Tuesday.
Images: twitter.com/narendramodi
Parliament Special Session LIVE | PM Narendra Modi shares highlights of first day in new Parliament building, says India's aspirations are perhaps at their highest in 1,000 years
"I am confident that the new Parliament will enhance the dedication and further transformative governance for our nation," the PM posts on X (formerly Twitter), along with a two minutes and 53 seconds-long video clip capturing some of the highlights of September 19, the day Parliament moved to the new building.
"India's aspirations are perhaps at their highest level in the past 1,000 years," the Prime Minister said on Tuesday.
Yesterday was a very special day for our democracy. I am confident that the new Parliament will enhance the dedication and further transformative governance for our nation. Here are the highlights… pic.twitter.com/kBurEL249C
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 20, 2023
President Droupadi Murmu says Women's reservation in local body elections to be most transformative revolution for gender justice in our times
"We ensured a minimum of 33 per cent reservation for women in local bodies’ elections. What is more, in a pleasant co-incidence, a proposal to provide similar reservation for women in the state assemblies and national Parliament, is taking a shape now," the President says.
The President also points out that over the years, the government has launched a number of initiatives to ensure basic facilities like housing, toilets, education, and health to protect the dignity of the poor.
We ensured a minimum of 33 percent reservation for women in local bodies’ elections. What is more, in a pleasant co-incidence, a proposal to provide similar reservation for women in the state assemblies and national Parliament, is taking a shape now. It will be the most… pic.twitter.com/AFgsdCv7y0
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) September 20, 2023
Parliament Special Session LIVE | Delhi unit of BJP Mahila Morcha thanks PM Modi for introducing women's reservation bill (Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam)
BJP Mahila Morcha's Delhi unit thanks Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other parliamentarians for introducing the women's reservation bill in the Lok Sabha. Leaders and workers of BJP Mahila Morcha gathered near Rail Bhawan and 15 other places in the Parliament building's vicinity.
The leaders and workers expressed their gratitude for fulfilling a long-pending demand of the country's women, according to Richa Pandey, chief of the organisation's Delhi unit.
The government introduced the bill in the lower house of Parliament on Tuesday. However, provisions in the bill state that the reservation will come into effect only after the delimitation exercise, or the redrawing of constituencies, taking into account census data conducted after it becomes a law.
Parliament Special Session LIVE | Parliament to discuss Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Eighth Amendment) Bill, 2023 in Lok Sabha today
Today is the third day of a special, five-day session of Parliament, wherein the government aims to introduce and secure the passage of eight bills. On Tuesday, September 19, it introduced the 'Nari Shakti Vandan' bill in the Lok Sabha, the lower house of Parliament. The women's reservation, which provides for 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, became the first to be introduced in the new Parliament building, inaugurated on Tuesday.
Parliament Special Session | Lok Sabha adjourned till 11 am Wednesday after Centre introduces Women Reservation Bill
The lower house of Parliament, the Lok Sabha is adjourned till 11 am Wednesday.
The five-day-long special session of Parliament ends on Friday, September 22.
Parliament Special Session LIVE | Centre introduces Women Reservation Bill in Lok Sabha
Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal introduces the new Women's Reservation Bill in the first sitting of the lower house of Parliament in the new building.
"This bill is in relation to women empowerment. By amending Article 239AA of the Constitution, 33 per cent of seats will be reserved for women in the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi. Article 330A reservations of seats for SC/ST in the House of people," the Union Minister says.
He also says that once the Nari Shakti Vandan Bill is passed, the number of seats for women in Lok Sabha will increase to 181.
The will be discussed in the lower house on Wednesday, and in the upper house on Thursday.
Parliament Special Session Live | Women's reservation in legislatures to strengthen democracy, says PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi says the government is bringing the Nari Shakti Vandan Bill to reserve one-third of all seats for women in the lower house of Parliament and the state legislative assemblies. The PM says that the Bill will strengthen democracy.
"Discussion on Women's Reservation Bill happened for a long time. During Atal Bihari Vajpayee's regime Women's Reservation Bill was introduced several times but there was not enough majority to pass the Bill, and because of this this dream remained incomplete. Today, God has given me the opportunity to take this forward... Our government is bringing a new Bill today on Women's participation in both Houses," PM Modi adds.
Parliament Special Session Live | PM Modi announces Nari Shakti Vandan Bill in new Parliament building
The Prime Minister tells Lok Sabha that the women's reservation bill, christened Nari Shakti Vandan Bill, received approval from the Union Cabinet on Monday. He hopes that the bill is passed unanimously in the session.
Parliament Special Session Live | PM Modi says new Parliament building reflects the aspirations of 140 crore citizens
The Prime Minister says Parliament is not a place to work for the growth of the party but for the development of the nation. The new building reflects the aspirations of the country's 140 crore citizens, he adds.
Parliament Special Session Live | PM Narendra Modi addresses Lok Sabha in new Parliament building
The Prime Minister says that women are leading in every sector, and the world is witnessing the contribution by Indian women in different walks of life, from sports to startups. He also says that the world has recognised the women-led development process in the country.
Hon’ble PM Shri Narendra Modi Ji addresses the Lok Sabha in new Parliament Building https://t.co/oXcz61d7sn
— Nitin Gadkari (@nitin_gadkari) September 19, 2023