Women’s Reservation Bill – Introduced 4 Times So Far

1. September 12, 1996 – The Constitution (81st Amendment) Bill – by H D Deve Gowda government.

  • Protests led by OBC MPs.
  • Demanded reservation for OBC women.
  • Nov 28, 1997 – Congress withdrew support.
  • Coalition government supported by it falls.
  • Lok Sabha was dissolved.
  • Bill lapsed.

2. July 20, 1998 – Women Reservation Bill is tabled again – under NDA government led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee.  

  • Opposed by RJD, SP and some OBC MPs
  • April 1999 – AIADMK withdrew support.
  • Vajpayee government falls.
  • Lok Sabha dissolved.
  • Bill lapsed.

3. December 23, 1999 – Bill was tabled again. The Constitution (85th Amendment Bill).

  • Opposed by RJD and SP
  • May 2004 – NDA lost general election.
  •  Vajpayee government falls.
  • Lok Sabha dissolved.
  • Bill lapsed.

4. May 6, 2008 – The Constitution (108th Amendment) Bill, 2008 – by UPA government in Rajya Sabha.

  • Amid internal differences in UPA coalition and cabinet ministers
  • May 8, 2008 – referred to the Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law, and Justice
  • December 17, 2009 – the Standing Committee submits its report.
  • February 25, 2010 – UPA government led by Manmohan Singh approved the Bill.
  • March 9, 2010 – Rajya Sabha passes the Bill.
  • But was never introduced in Lok Sabha owing to internal differences.
  • May 2014 – UPA lost general election.
  • Manmohan Singh’s government falls.
  • Lok Sabha dissolved.
  • Bill lapsed.

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