India, April 20 -- The Women's Reservation Bill (Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam) was defeated in the Lok Sabha on April 17, 2026. The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, which sought to operationalise the reservation by 2029, failed to secure the required two-thirds majority. While 298 members voted in favour, 230 voted against it - leaving the Government 54 votes short of the "magic figure" of 352.

This April 2026 defeat is not an isolated event; it marks the latest setback in a 30-year struggle. Since its introduction in 1996, the Women's Reservation Bill failed six times before the 2023 version was finally signed into law.

For decades, the path to implementation was blocked by deep-seated political divisions. Parties like the RJ...