Women’s reservation in Parliament: Why quotas alone won’t increase women’s representation

As debate around the Women’s Reservation Bill resurfaces, the central question is no longer whether quotas will increase representation, but whether they can overcome the deeper structural barriers that limit women’s participation in politics. Evidence from a Lokniti-CSDS study suggests that while reservation may expand opportunities, it does not by itself ensure that more women are able to sustain political careers. Over the past decades, Indian women have become a significant electoral force. However, this rise in participation has not translated into representation. Women remain underrepresented as candidates and elected representatives, highlighting a gap between voting and political presence.

The Lokniti-CSDS study shows that while women vote in large numbers, their involvement in more active forms of political engagement remains low (Table 1). Across categories such as locality, education, caste, class, and age, a large majority of women (74%-84%) report being “not at all active” in electoral processes beyond voting. This pattern cuts across socio-economic groups, suggesting that limited political engagement is not confined to specific sections. While voting has become more inclusive, deeper forms of political participation remain restricted.