Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addresses the nation

1. At a Glance

• PM's national address on 18 April 2026 defending the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam (Women's Reservation Act) and attacking parties opposing it in Parliament [S1].
• Hooks into one of the most examinable constitutional reforms of the decade — the 103rd → 106th Amendment trajectory — and the 2026 Delimitation & 131st Constitutional Amendment Bills now in Parliament [S2][S3][S4].
• Tests aspirants on Articles 330A, 332A, 334A, the census–delimitation linkage, and the federal-political economy of women's reservation.

2. Why in the News

• On 18 April 2026 (11:39 PM IST), PM Modi addressed the nation framing the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam as a "Mahayagya" to empower 21st-century women; accused "dynastic parties" of obstructing it [S1].
• Address coincides with introduction in Lok Sabha of the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026 and the Delimitation Bill, 2026 (Bill Nos. 107 & 108 of 2026) — the operational trigger for activating women's reservation [S3][S4].
• Census scheduled for 1 March 2027 is the constitutional pre-condition for the reservation taking effect under Article 334A [S2].

3. Background & Evolution

• 1996: First Women's Reservation Bill (81st Amendment Bill) introduced by Deve Gowda government — lapsed.
• 1998, 1999, 2008: Successive reintroductions; 2010: passed by Rajya Sabha but lapsed in Lok Sabha [S2].
• 19 Sept 2023: Constitution (128th Amendment) Bill, 2023 introduced in Lok Sabha during the special session [S2].
• 20 Sept 2023: Lok Sabha passed (454-2); 21 Sept 2023: Rajya Sabha passed unanimously (214-0) [S2].
• 28 Sept 2023: Presidential assent — enacted as Constitution (106th Amendment) Act, 2023, titled Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam [S2].
• 2026: Delimitation Bill, 2026 and 131st Constitutional Amendment Bill, 2026 introduced to operationalise reservation post-census [S3][S4].

4. Core Static Facts

• Short title: Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam = Constitution (One Hundred and Sixth Amendment) Act, 2023 [S2].
• Quantum: One-third (~33%) reservation for women [S2].
• Coverage: Lok Sabha, State Legislative Assemblies, Legislative Assembly of NCT of Delhi. Does NOT cover Rajya Sabha or State Legislative Councils [S2].
• Articles inserted: 330A (Lok Sabha), 332A (State Assemblies), 334A (commencement & duration); Article 239AA (Delhi) amended [S5].
• SC/ST sub-quota: One-third within SC/ST reserved seats also reserved for women of those groups [S5].
• Commencement trigger (Art. 334A): After delimitation based on the first census taken after the Act's commencement [S2][S5].
• Sunset clause: Reservation to operate for 15 years, extendable by Parliament [S2].
• Rotation: Reserved seats to rotate after each delimitation [S2].
• Parent body: Ministry of Law and Justice (Legislative Department) for the Act; Election Commission / Delimitation Commission for operationalisation.

5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis

Legal / Constitutional - Enacted under Article 368 procedure; required ratification by ≥½ of State Legislatures as it affects representation [S2]. - Activation hinges on Article 82 + 170 delimitation, locked to a post-Act census [S5]. - Raises Article 14/15(3) equality–positive-discrimination interface; no OBC sub-quota — a contested omission.

Political / Governance - PM characterised opposition as "dynastic parties" fearing erosion of patronage networks [S1]. - Operational delay (census-delimitation chain) makes the reservation effectively post-2029 Lok Sabha unless accelerated [S2].

Social - Women MPs in 17th Lok Sabha: ~14% — below global average (~26%); reservation pushes India toward parity [S2]. - SC/ST women face double disadvantage; sub-quota addresses intersectionality.

Federal - Delimitation post-2027 census threatens southern states' seat share due to better demographic management — political friction between Centre and southern States [S3].

Historical - Culmination of a 27-year legislative debate [S2]; mirrors 73rd/74th Amendments (1992) which already reserve 1/3 seats for women in Panchayats and Municipalities.

6. Recent Developments (last 12–18 months)

• 18 April 2026: PM Modi's nation-wide address on Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam [S1].
• 2026: Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026 (Bill No. 107 of 2026) introduced in Lok Sabha — Delimitation-linked amendment [S3].
• 2026: Delimitation Bill, 2026 (Bill No. 108 of 2026) introduced [S4].
• 2026: Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026 (Bill No. 109 of 2026) introduced [S3].
• Census 2027: Reference date 1 March 2027 for the first post-Act census [S2].

7. Prelims Hooks

• Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam = Constitution (106th Amendment) Act, 2023 [S2].
• Introduced as 128th Amendment Bill, became 106th Amendment Act [S2].
• Inserts Articles 330A, 332A, 334A; amends Article 239AA [S5].
• Reservation: ~33% in Lok Sabha, State Assemblies, Delhi Assembly only — not Rajya Sabha or Councils [S2].
• Lok Sabha vote: 454–2; Rajya Sabha vote: 214–0 [S2].
• Operative only after delimitation post the first census after commencement (Art. 334A) [S2][S5].
• First post-Act Census reference date: 1 March 2027 [S2].
• Sunset: 15 years, extendable by Parliament [S2].
• Reserved seats to rotate after each delimitation [S2].
• Sub-reservation of 1/3 within SC/ST seats for SC/ST women — no OBC sub-quota [S2][S5].
• First Women's Reservation Bill was the 81st Amendment Bill, 1996 [S2].
• Required ratification by at least half of State Legislatures [S2].
• PM's address: 18 April 2026 [S1].
• Recent Bills: 131st Constitutional Amendment Bill, 2026 and Delimitation Bill, 2026 [S3][S4].
• Existing 1/3 women reservation in Panchayats/Municipalities comes from 73rd/74th Amendments (1992).

8. Mains Relevance

• GS-I: Role of women & women's organisation; salient features of Indian society.
• GS-II: Indian Constitution — amendments; Parliament; representation of People; welfare of vulnerable sections.
• Probable stems: 1. "The Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam is a transformative reform, but its design defers transformation. Examine." 2. "Linking women's reservation to delimitation and census risks postponing equity. Critically analyse." 3. "Discuss whether the absence of an OBC sub-quota in the 106th Amendment undermines its intersectional promise."

9. Related Topics to Study Next

• 73rd & 74th Constitutional Amendments (1992) — original 1/3 women's reservation template.
• Delimitation Commission Act, 2002 + Articles 82, 170 — operational pre-condition.
• Census 2027 — first digital, caste-enumerated census; trigger for the Act.
• Article 334 — original SC/ST reservation sunset clause; parallels Art. 334A.
• Women in Panchayati Raj — Bihar (50%) model — comparator for raising the bar.
• Representation of People Act, 1951 — electoral framework.
• GSDP-linked southern states' delimitation anxiety — federal political economy.
• CEDAW (1979) — international gender-equality benchmark India ratified in 1993.

10. Common Errors / Trap Areas

• Bill vs Act numbering: Introduced as 128th Amendment Bill, enacted as 106th Amendment Act — not the same number.
• Coverage: Rajya Sabha & Legislative Councils are excluded — easy MCQ trap.
• Implementation date: The Act is in force, but reservation is NOT operative until post-2027 census delimitation. Aspirants wrongly assume 2024 polls applied it.
• OBC sub-quota: Often wrongly assumed; only SC/ST sub-quota exists.
• Ministry confusion: Sponsored by Ministry of Law & Justice (Legislative Dept.) — not Ministry of Women & Child Development.

11. Sources

• [S1] Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addresses the nation — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2253433 — (tier: 1)
• [S2] Women's Reservation Bill 2023 [The Constitution (128th Amendment) Bill, 2023] — https://prsindia.org/billtrack/the-constitution-one-hundred-twenty-eighth-amendment-bill-2023 — (tier: 1)
• [S3] The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026 — https://prsindia.org/billtrack/the-constitution-131st-amendment-bill-2026 — (tier: 1)
• [S4] The Delimitation Bill, 2026 — https://prsindia.org/billtrack/the-delimitation-bill-2026 — (tier: 1)
• [S5] Constitution (128th Amendment) Bill, 2023 — Bill text — https://prsindia.org/files/bills_acts/bills_parliament/2023/Constitution_(128th_Amendment)_Bill_2023.pdf — (tier: 1)