India News | Women's Reservation Bill Introduced in Rajya Sabha

New Delhi, Sep 21 (PTI) A landmark bill to reserve a third of seats in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies for women was introduced in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday.

The 128th Constitution Amendment Bill, which was approved by two-thirds majority in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, was introduced in the Upper House by Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal.

Also Read | Who Was Sukhdool Singh Gill Alias Sukha Duneke? Know Everything About ‘Wanted’ Punjab Gangster Shot Dead in Canada.

Rajya Sabha will have a seven-and-a-half hour window to discuss the bill.The legislation is widely expected to get approval of the Upper House.

It will then require approval of majority of state assemblies. It will be implemented after a delimitation exercise based on Census data is completed.

Also Read | Rahul Gandhi Makes Surprise Visit To Meet Railway Porters at Anand Vihar Railway Station in Delhi, Lifts Luggage in Dress of Coolie (See Pics and Videos).

This is the seventh attempt since 1996 to get the women's reservation bill passed.

Women presently make up for nearly half of India's 95 crore registered voters but comprise only 15 per cent of lawmakers in Parliament and 10 per cent in state assemblies.

The 33 per cent reservation for women will not apply to the upper house of Parliament and state legislatures.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)