Published Paper Details:

The Indian Ccnstitution in Part III provides equal political rights to all the citizens of India, including women. However, these rights are usurped and seized mainly by the male population of India. While women constitutes about 48 percent of the population (Census, 2011), their political representation in the 16th Lok Sabha consist only of 11.8 percent, which is the highest percentage in the history of independent India. According to a study conducted by Inter-Parliamentary Union, India ranks 149th in a list of 193 countries in terms of women�s representation in the lower House (Lok Sabha) of Parliament as of July 1, 2017. To increase the number of women representation in the Parliament, a bill has been introduced several times and is known as the 108th Amendment bill of the Constitution (2008). The bill aims to raise the voices of women in both Houses of Parliament (Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha) as well as in the State assemblies by one-third. This paper seeks to draw the attention on this particular bill and its purpose to improve the representation of women in the political field. There are various reasons behind under-representation of women in India in the political field. Does the bill has provisions to ensure that the voices of Indian women representatives are heard in the decision-making process? Will this bill ensure assertion of their political right? The bill argues it will provide reservation for women representatives to take part in the political process. Does it violate the right of equal opportunities in the political realm? The paper would inquire about all these queries.