Washington, April 10 -- Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman will skip a planned visit to the US ahead of efforts in parliament to amend the 2023 Women's Reservation Act, HT has learnt. Sitharaman, who was expected to meet with key CEOs in New York City, will also skip the Spring meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund in Washington DC. Sitharaman had earlier skipped the annual meetings of the World Bank and IMF in October last year amid tensions between New Delhi and Washington over trade, including the 50% tariff placed on Indian exports to the United States. On Wednesday, the Union Cabinet cleared a draft amendment bill that is expected to operationalise 33% reservation for women in Parliament and state assemblies. PM Modi called on representatives from across political parties to support the amendment in an op-ed on Thursday. The amendment bill will be discussed in Parliament on April 16. While Sitharaman was initially expected to travel to the US -- where she was also slated to speak with US media outlet Newsweek -- the focus on the amendment bill in Parliament led to a change in plans. The Spring meetings of the World Bank and IMF will kick off in Washington DC on April 13, against the backdrop of rising energy prices and economic insecurity across the world due to the US-Iran conflict. Disruptions to the supply of oil, gas, fertiliser as well as crucial inputs like aluminium, methanol, sulfur and helium due to the conflict and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz has worsened the global economic outlook for 2026. The meetings this year will be focused on a new jobs agenda as the agencies focus on driving private sector-led growth, an official told HT...