Bhubaneswar, April 14 -- The Centre is set to introduce a major constitutional amendment bill in Parliament on Thursday, proposing to increase the strength of the Lok Sabha from the current 543 seats to around 850, in a move aimed at implementing women's reservation in the Lower House and state assemblies.

According to sources, the bill seeks to 'operationalize' 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies by increasing the total number of seats of the lower house. It proposes amending Article 81 of the Constitution to allow up to 815 members to be elected from states and up to 35 from Union Territories.

It states that 'The House of the People (Lok Sabha) shall consist of not more than 815 members chosen by di...