In a major political development, a united Opposition on Friday, April 17, 2026, defeated the government’s Women’s Reservation Bill in the Lok Sabha, marking the first legislative setback for the NDA government in over a decade. Despite last-minute appeals from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and assurances from Home Minister Amit Shah, the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill failed to secure the required two-thirds majority, receiving 298 votes in favour and 230 against—well short of the 352 needed for passage.

The proposed legislation sought to introduce women’s reservation in Parliament from 2029, but Opposition parties resisted it, arguing that it could impact the representation of southern states and delay caste enumeration. They remained unconvinced by the government’s clarifications. Following the defeat, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju announced that two related bills, including one on delimitation, would be withdrawn due to their close linkage with the main proposal.

This marks the first instance of a government bill being voted down in Parliament during the current regime, unlike earlier cases where controversial laws were withdrawn before voting. Ahead of the vote, the Prime Minister had urged Members of Parliament to support the bill, stressing the need to enhance women’s representation. With the proposal failing, the government is expected to reassess its legislative strategy, while the Opposition has termed the outcome a significant political victory.