Archive · 15 Aug 2026
Modi Urges Parties to Back 33% Women's Reservation in Legislatures
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the leader of India.
On August 15, 2026, India's Independence Day, he gave a big speech from the Red Fort.
He asked all political parties to come together and make sure that at least one-third of the seats in the houses where laws are made are filled by women.
He said women leaders in villages and towns are already doing a wonderful job of helping their communities.
He reminded everyone about a law called the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam that was passed to give women more power in politics.
But the special rule needed to start that law did not pass in Parliament in April.
Some leaders from the Congress party asked why his government had not made women's reservation happen earlier.
One Congress leader even said women could be given half of the seats instead of one-third.
The Prime Minister also set a goal of helping 6 crore women earn a good income.
His main message was that women should help decide the country's policies and future.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged all political parties to ensure 33 per cent representation for women in State Legislative Assemblies and the Lok Sabha.
He made the appeal during his Independence Day address from the ramparts of the Red Fort, calling women's reservation in legislatures the 'need of the hour.'
Modi cited the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, 2023, but implementation stalled after the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill fell in the Lok Sabha on April 17 without the required two-thirds majority.
Congress spokesperson Ragini Nayak asked what stopped Modi from implementing women's reservation in 12 years, while Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring called for 50 per cent reservation.
Modi also set a target of making 6 crore women 'Lakhpati Didis,' saying the earlier target of 3 crore had already been surpassed.
- Who
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with responses from Congress spokesperson Ragini Nayak and Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring
- What
- Urged all political parties to ensure 33 per cent reservation for women in State Legislative Assemblies and the Lok Sabha, citing the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam
- When
- Saturday, August 15, 2026, during India's 80th Independence Day address
- Where
- From the ramparts of the Red Fort in New Delhi
- Why
- To strengthen women's representation in politics so they can actively contribute to shaping India's policies, and to empower women economically through the Lakhpati Didi target
Congress and opposition parties
PM Modi and NDA government
Delay in implementing women's reservation
Congress and opposition parties
Congress spokesperson Ragini Nayak asked what stopped Modi from making women's reservation a reality during 12 years of strong majority, saying 'the question of taking credit will arise only when women's reservation is implemented.'
PM Modi and NDA government
Modi urged all political parties to come forward and ensure 33% reservation, saying the dream had 'persistently fallen victim to political games and political battlegrounds' over the last 40 years.
Share of reservation for women
Congress and opposition parties
Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring said that since women are equal stakeholders in a democracy, 50% reservation could be given to them.
PM Modi and NDA government
PM Modi asked parties to ensure 33% representation for women in State Legislative Assemblies and the Lok Sabha.
- Speaker
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi
- Occasion
- Independence Day address from the ramparts of the Red Fort, August 15, 2026 (India's 80th Independence Day)
- Demand
- 33% reservation for women in State Legislative Assemblies and the Lok Sabha
- Reference law
- Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, 2023, passed in both Houses of Parliament
- Failed enabling bill
- Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, which fell in the Lok Sabha on April 17
- Congress response
- 'Who stopped him?' - query over 12 years of NDA rule; Punjab Congress chief sought 50% reservation
- Lakhpati Didi target
- 6 crore women; 3 crore target already surpassed
- Challenges cited
- COVID-19 pandemic; conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia
