Context:

• Recently, the Prime Minister introduced the Women's Reservation Bill (Narishakti Vandan Act) in the first session of the Lok Sabha in the new Parliament House.
• This Act has been introduced under the 128th Constitutional Amendment Bill.

 Background:

•  In the year 1996, HD Deve Gowda's government brought this bill in Parliament for the first time.
• This bill was also introduced in 1998 during the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government.
• Similar efforts were made in 2008 also.
•  This bill was passed with an overwhelming majority in the Rajya Sabha in 2010.
• In the National Perspective Plan for Women in the year 1988, it was recommended that women should be provided reservation from the Panchayat level to the Parliament level.
• Under the 73rd and 74th amendments of the Constitution, one-third of the seats are reserved for women belonging to Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe.

 About the Bill:

• Under this bill, it is proposed to reserve 33 percent seats for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies.
• It is proposed in this bill that reservation will continue for the period of 15 years and there will be a quota for SC/ST under the seats reserved for women.
• Worth noting is the fact that no separate provision has been made for women of OBC category.

 Changes that may come after the passing of the bill:

• At present the total number of members in the Lok Sabha is 543.
• At present the number of women MPs is 82.
• After the bill is passed, the number of women MPs in the Lok Sabha will increase to 181.
• In this bill, under Article 239AA of the Constitution, 33% reservation will be given to women in the Legislative Assembly of the capital Delhi.
• That means, in Delhi Assembly also, 23 out of 70 seats will be reserved for women.

 Importance:

•  Equality between women and men.
• The right of women to fully develop their potential.
•  Women's right to self-representation and self-determination.

 Exam oriented Static facts-

•  New parliament buildingFoundation stone laid by Prime Minister: December 10, 2020
• Construction start: January 15, 2021
• Construction period – 2.5 years
• Inauguration -28 May 2023
• Prominence of three national symbols:
• National flower lotus,
• National bird peacock,
•  National tree banyan
• The four lions of the Ashoka Pillar, the national emblem of India, are installed at the top.