The Indian Parliament's monsoon session, starting July 20 and ending August 13, will focus on the women's reservation bill, opposition concerns about paper leaks, and recent party defections. Seating arrangements may change based on the Speaker's ruling on defecting MPs.
The Indian government is close to finalizing a constitutional amendment to implement women's reservation by expanding Lok Sabha and assembly seats. The proposal may keep the 1971 Census for inter-state seat ratios while using the 2011 Census for redrawing internal constituency boundaries.
Former Congress MLA Alka Lamba has been convicted by Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court in a case related to a protest for women's reservation at Jantar Mantar in 2024. The court found her guilty of violating prohibitory orders and obstructing public servants. Sentencing arguments are scheduled for June 4.
Union minister Kiren Rijiju has quoted an exchange with Congress MP Shashi Tharoor to attack the opposition after the Women's Reservation Amendment Bill was defeated in Lok Sabha on April 17, 2026. The bill, which sought to provide 33% reservation for women in Parliament and state assemblies from the 2029 Lok Sabha polls, failed to secure a two-thirds majority with 298 MPs voting in favor and 230 against. Rijiju claimed Tharoor agreed that Congress could be seen as anti-women, while opposition parties Congress, TMC, and Samajwadi Party faced criticism for opposing the bill.
Independent MP Rajesh Ranjan (Pappu Yadav) has defended his controversial remarks on women entering politics, questioning what mistake he committed that warrants an apology. The Bihar State Commission for Women has taken suo motu cognisance and sought an explanation, warning of a recommendation for Lok Sabha membership cancellation. Yadav alleged leaders and capitalists were "feasting on the rape of girls" and claimed his comments highlighted exploitation of women in politics.
PM Narendra Modi addressed four rallies in West Bengal's Bankura, Purulia, Jhargram and Midnapore, attacking Trinamool Congress for allegedly blocking the women's reservation bill and deceiving Bengal's daughters. Modi accused TMC of being "maa virodhi" (opposed to mothers), conspiring with Congress against women, and seeking religion-based reservation. He outlined welfare promises including Rs 21,000 for pregnant women, free cervical cancer vaccination, and annual Rs 36,000 support for women.
The Indian government released a set of FAQs defending its women’s reservation bill, defeated in Parliament on April 17, which proposed a 50% increase in Lok Sabha seats to 850. The bill faced opposition primarily from southern states, with BJP sending MP Anurag Thakur to Karnataka to counter criticism. The government argued delimitation is necessary for fair representation given India's population growth from 54 crore to 140 crore since 1971, while Congress accused the ruling party of anti-women agenda and called the FAQ release a damage control exercise.
A government bill linking women's reservation to a landmark seat expansion in the parliament and state assemblies was defeated on the floor of the Lok Sabha. The opposition called it a victory against delimitation "by the backdoor." Here is what the bill sought to do, why it collapsed, and what the constitutional fight over representation will look like next.
West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee hit back at PM Modi's criticism regarding the Women's Reservation Bill, accusing him of misleading the nation. She defended her party, TMC, stating its consistent support for women's representation. Banerjee clarified her opposition is to the delimitation exercise, which she believes is a political ploy, and questioned the bill's delayed implementation and linkage to delimitation.
A government bill linking women's reservation to a landmark seat expansion in the parliament and state assemblies was defeated on the floor of the Lok Sabha. The opposition called it a victory against delimitation "by the backdoor." Here is what the bill sought to do, why it collapsed, and what the constitutional fight over representation will look like next.
