Topic analysis

India fails to pass bill to boost women’s representation after delimitation row

The Indian government failed to pass a constitutional amendment to reserve one-third of parliamentary seats for women, as the opposition accused the ruling BJP of linking the measure to a contentious redrawing of electoral constituencies. The delimitation process, which would increase parliamentary seats based on the 2011 census, is seen as benefiting northern states and penalizing southern states, causing the bill to fall short of the required two-thirds majority.