The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government plans to revive the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill during the upcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament [1, 2].

This legislative push is critical because the bill links women’s reservation with the delimitation of Lok Sabha constituencies. If passed, it would fundamentally alter the representation of women in India's lower house of Parliament, but it requires a high threshold of legislative support to become law [1, 2].

The Monsoon Session is scheduled to begin July 20, 2024 [2, 3]. This attempt follows a previous failure in April 2024, when the bill did not secure the necessary support during a three-day special session [1, 4].

To amend the constitution, the government must secure a two-thirds majority, which equates to 66.7% of total members [2]. This requirement has proven difficult for the administration under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The government is currently operating under a strategy known as 'Mission 360' to secure the necessary votes [1, 2].

While the NDA's numbers have improved since the April session, the coalition still lacks the total votes required to pass the amendment independently [2]. The government now relies on seeking support or abstentions from various regional parties to bridge the gap [2].

The bill remains a centerpiece of the government's legislative agenda in New Delhi. The outcome of the session will determine whether the link between women's quotas and the redrawing of electoral boundaries moves forward or remains stalled [1, 5].

“The government must secure a two-thirds majority, which equates to 66.7% of total members.”

The success of the 131st Amendment depends on the NDA's ability to build a cross-party consensus. By linking women's reservation to delimitation—the process of reapportioning legislative seats based on population—the government is tying a popular social cause to a complex and often contentious electoral restructuring. Failure to pass the bill would signal a limitation in the NDA's legislative reach despite its improved numbers.