India is preparing for a redrawing of its political map, driven by what the government says is a push to reserve one-third of seats for women in parliament and state assemblies. To do that, the government will unveil a constitutional amendment – requiring a two-thirds majority – backed by a three-day special session from Thursday. Women make up only about 14% of India’s 543 lower house MPs. The reform would raise that to roughly a third, closer to global norms. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has described the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam (which loosely translates from Hindi to Saluting Women Power Act) as a historic leap, calling it “among the most significant decisions of our times,” and arguing it honors women’s empowerment. But opposition parties say a simple women’s quota is being tied to a controversial redrawing of constituencies – a wider political overhaul masquerading as a gender reform.
