Yogi Adityanath criticizes INDIA bloc over Women's Quota Bill; Akhilesh Yadav counters with social justice pledge
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Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath accused the INDIA bloc parties of being 'undemocratic and anti-women' for their alleged opposition to the Women's Reservation Bill.
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Adityanath led a march to emphasize the BJP's commitment to women's empowerment and political representation.
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Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav countered, predicting the BJP's defeat in upcoming UP elections and promising a governance model focused on social justice.
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The political discourse highlights the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam as a key issue in state and national politics.
- ●The Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, passed in September 2023, is the 106th Constitutional Amendment Act.
- ●It mandates 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha, State Legislative Assemblies, and the Legislative Assembly of the National Capital Territory of Delhi.
- ●The implementation of this reservation is contingent upon the completion of the next census and a subsequent delimitation exercise.
- ●The bill was passed by both houses of the Indian Parliament with overwhelming support.
Women's Reservation Bill & Social Justice
The Women's Reservation Bill (now Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam) is a legislative measure aimed at ensuring greater political representation for women by reserving a fixed percentage of seats in elected bodies. This initiative is rooted in the principle of social justice, which advocates for equitable distribution of opportunities and resources, particularly for historically marginalized groups. By providing affirmative action for women in legislative bodies, the Act seeks to address gender disparity in political power and decision-making, thereby promoting a more inclusive and representative democracy.
Simple Analogy: Think of it like ensuring all players get a fair chance to bat in a cricket match, not just the traditionally dominant ones. The reservation ensures women, who are a significant part of the population but underrepresented in politics, get a guaranteed opportunity to participate and lead.
Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam (106th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2023)
This landmark Act inserts new Articles 330A, 332A, and 334A into the Constitution of India. Article 330A provides for reservation of seats for women in the Lok Sabha, Article 332A for State Legislative Assemblies, and Article 334A specifies that the reservation will come into effect after the next census and subsequent delimitation exercise. It also includes a provision for reservation of seats for women belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes within the reserved quota for women.
Electoral Reforms
The Women's Reservation Act is a significant step towards reforming India's electoral system to enhance gender parity and make legislative bodies more representative.
Gender Equality & Women Empowerment
Directly addresses the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 5 (Gender Equality) by aiming to increase women's political participation and leadership.
Federalism
The implementation of the Act will impact state legislative assemblies, requiring coordination and adaptation across different states, touching upon aspects of India's federal structure.
Delimitation Commission
The Act's implementation is tied to the next delimitation exercise, making the role and process of the Delimitation Commission crucial for its operationalization.
Exam Relevance
GS-II: Indian Constitution—historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure. Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure. Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections.
General Awareness: Indian Polity & Constitution, Current Affairs.
General Awareness: Current Affairs, Indian Polity.
General Awareness: Indian Polity, Current Affairs.
General Awareness: Indian Polity, Current Affairs.
Previously Asked (PYQs)
Consider the following statements : 1. The India Sanitation Coalition is a platform to promote sustainable sanitation and is funded by the Government of India and the World Health Organization. 2. The National Institute of Urban Affairs is an apex body of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs in Government of India and provides innovative solutions to address the challenges of Urban India. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer: 2 only
Consider the following pairs: 1. Radhakanta Deb - First President of the British Indian Association 2. Gazulu Lakshminarasu Chetty - Founder of the Madras Mahajana Sabha 3. Surendranath Banerjee - Founder of the Indian Association Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?
Answer: 1 and 3 only
Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action', often seen in the news, is
Answer: an agenda for women's empowerment, an outcome of a World Conference convened by the United Nations
Expected Questions
- ★UPSC may ask: 'Critically analyze the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, 2023, in terms of its constitutional implications, implementation challenges, and potential impact on women's political empowerment in India.'
- ★SSC/Banking may ask: 'The Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam is related to which constitutional amendment?'
- ★Railway/Defence may ask: 'What percentage of seats are reserved for women in the Lok Sabha under the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam?'
Topic Frequency
High
Key Terms
The official name of the 106th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2023, which provides for 33% reservation for women in legislative bodies.
The process of redrawing boundaries of electoral constituencies to ensure that each constituency has roughly the same population, thereby ensuring equal representation.
A concept advocating for fair and equitable distribution of resources, opportunities, and privileges within a society, often involving affirmative action for disadvantaged groups.
Must Remember
- •The Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam is the 106th Constitutional Amendment Act.
- •It reserves 33% of seats for women in Lok Sabha, State Assemblies, and Delhi Assembly.
- •Its implementation is tied to the next census and subsequent delimitation exercise, not immediate.
- •It includes sub-reservation for SC/ST women within the 33% quota.
Exam Tips
- •Focus on the specific articles amended/inserted in the Constitution (330A, 332A, 334A).
- •Understand the conditions for implementation (census and delimitation) and why it's not immediate.
- •Be aware of the historical background and previous attempts to pass similar legislation.
- •Connect the Act to broader themes of governance, gender equality, and federalism.