Explain the concept Women representation in the Loksabha.

Women's representation in the Lok Sabha means the share of seats held by women members. It has increased slowly but is still far below their share in the population.

• Women are about half of India's population, but for a long time women members formed only a small part of the Lok Sabha (in recent Lok Sabhas, less than 15%).
• In local self-government bodies, women got 33% reserved seats through the 73rd and 74th Amendments, and many states, including Maharashtra, have raised this to 50%. This has brought lakhs of women into public life.
• For a long time there was a demand for reservation of seats for women in the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies too. In 2023 Parliament passed a constitutional amendment (Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam) reserving one-third of these seats for women. It will come into effect after the next census and delimitation.

Greater representation of women makes democracy more inclusive and helps women's issues get proper attention in law-making.