What Happened
- Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Derek O'Brien criticised the central government for not sharing the draft bills with Members of Parliament even 48 hours before the special Parliament session scheduled to begin April 16, 2026.
- The Union Cabinet has cleared draft bills to reserve 273 seats for women in the Lok Sabha and increase its strength to 816 seats — a significant constitutional amendment.
- O'Brien accused the government of "mocking Parliament" and conducting "political theatre" by convoking a special session without adequate preparation time for lawmakers.
- Three bills are expected to be introduced during the special three-day sitting (April 16–18): the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill expanding Lok Sabha to 850 seats, amendments to the Women's Reservation Act, and related delimitation legislation.
Static Topic Bridges
Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam — The Constitution (106th Amendment) Act, 2023
The Women's Reservation Act, enacted as the 106th Constitutional Amendment in September 2023, inserts Articles 330A, 332A, and 334A into the Constitution. Article 330A reserves one-third of Lok Sabha seats for women (including within SC/ST reserved seats); Article 332A does the same for state assemblies; Article 334A sets the commencement conditions. Crucially, Article 334A stipulates that reservation will come into force only after delimitation following the first census conducted after the amendment — linking implementation to a future census-and-delimitation exercise.
- 106th Amendment passed: September 2023 (Rajya Sabha on September 21; Lok Sabha on September 20)
- Inserts Articles 330A, 332A, 334A into the Constitution
- 33% reservation for women in Lok Sabha and state assemblies, including within SC/ST quota seats
- Duration: 15 years from commencement, unless extended by Parliament
- Original trigger: delimitation after first census post-amendment (i.e., post-2027 census)
- New proposal (April 2026): amend Article 334A to decouple reservation from census, allowing implementation before 2029 elections
Connection to this news: The bills before Parliament in April 2026 seek to amend Article 334A to remove the census-linkage and enable delimitation — and thus women's reservation — to proceed immediately, targeting the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.
Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026 — Expanding Lok Sabha
The proposed Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026 amends Article 81 of the Constitution, which governs the composition of the Lok Sabha. Currently Article 81 caps Lok Sabha membership at 550 (not more than 530 from states + not more than 20 from UTs). The proposed amendment raises this to 850 maximum (815 from states + 35 from UTs), enabling a comprehensive delimitation exercise using current population data.
- Current Article 81 ceiling: 550 members (530 states + 20 UTs); in practice, 543 elected members
- Proposed ceiling: 850 (815 states + 35 UTs) — an increase of 307 seats
- Seat freeze history: 42nd Amendment (1976) froze allocation until 2001 census; 84th Amendment (2001) extended freeze to first census after 2026
- The 131st Amendment Bill removes this freeze and enables fresh allocation based on latest census
- Type of majority required: Special majority under Article 368 (two-thirds of members present and voting + majority of total membership of each House) — and ratification by at least half of state legislatures if federal structure is affected
Connection to this news: Derek O'Brien's complaint that lawmakers had not received the bill text 48 hours before the session relates directly to this complex constitutional amendment, which requires special majority and potentially state ratification.
Parliamentary Procedures — Special Sitting and Legislative Process
Under Article 85 of the Constitution, Parliament is summoned, prorogued, and dissolved by the President on the advice of the Cabinet. A "special sitting" or extension of a session is not a separate constitutional category but a continuation of the ongoing Budget Session. Bills introduced in such sittings follow the same procedure as regular bills: introduction, consideration, passing. Constitutional amendment bills under Article 368 additionally require special majority in each House; if they affect Centre-State relations or federal provisions, also ratification by at least half the state legislatures.
- Article 85: President summons Parliament sessions
- Article 368: Procedure for constitutional amendments — special majority in each House
- Federal provisions require state legislature ratification (Article 368(2) proviso)
- Three-reading process for bills: introduction, general discussion (second reading), clause-by-clause consideration, passing
- Whip issued by parties for special sessions — binding on members under Tenth Schedule anti-defection provisions
Connection to this news: The criticism that bills were not shared in advance directly implicates parliamentary procedure norms — members cannot meaningfully scrutinise a constitutional amendment without adequate time to review the text.
Key Facts & Data
- 106th Constitutional Amendment (Women's Reservation): September 2023; inserts Articles 330A, 332A, 334A
- Women's reservation quantum: 33% (one-third) of Lok Sabha and state assembly seats
- Current Lok Sabha strength: 543 elected + 2 nominated (Anglo-Indians, provision removed by 104th Amendment 2020) = 543
- Proposed Lok Sabha strength: maximum 850 (815 states + 35 UTs)
- Special Parliament sitting: April 16–18, 2026 (extension of Budget Session)
- 273 seats proposed for women out of 816 (approximately one-third)
- Special majority under Article 368: two-thirds of members present and voting + absolute majority of total House membership