GK Question

polity medium true_false

The 74th Amendment mandates reservation for women in Municipalities at all levels (ward, municipality, corporation) to the extent of not less than one-third of total seats, with rotation of reserved seats.

  1. True
  2. False

Answer: True

Women's reservation in Municipalities: (a) 74th Amendment (1992): Article 243T mandates reservation for women in Municipalities: (i) Not less than one-third (33%) of total seats at all levels (ward, municipality, corporation), (ii) One-third of seats reserved for SC/ST also reserved for women from those categories, (iii) Rotation: Reserved seats rotated after each election to ensure broad participation, (b) Applications: (i) Women's participation: Significant increase in women elected to Municipalities; increased political participation, leadership development, (ii) Policy impact: Women representatives prioritize water, sanitation, education, health, street lighting; different governance priorities, (iii) Empowerment: Political participation builds confidence, skills, social status for urban women, (c) Challenges: (i) Proxy leadership: Male relatives may exercise power on behalf of women representatives, limiting independent voice, (ii) Capacity building: Training needed for women representatives on urban governance, financial management, legal procedures, (iii) Social barriers: Patriarchal norms may limit women's effective participation, voice in Municipalities, (d) Illustrates transformative urban federalism: Constitutional amendment operationalizes gender justice in urban local governance; reservation enables women's political participation, influencing municipal priorities.

Topic 74th Amendment - Reservation for Women in Municipalities
Exam Relevance Women's reservation in Municipalities frequently asked in UPSC and SSC exams