Why women’s reservation cannot wait any longer

India stands at a curious democratic crossroads. It is one of the world’s most vibrant democracies, marked by high voter participation and an increasingly engaged female electorate. Yet within its legislative institutions, women remain conspicuously underrepresented. This contradiction — between participation and representation — makes a compelling case for the immediate implementation of the Women’s Reservation Bill.

This gap has been repeatedly highlighted. While Indian women have emerged as a decisive electoral force, their presence in law-making bodies remains disproportionately low. Nowhere is this imbalance more evident than in the stark difference between State and national representation.