Omkar Khandekar
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Earlier this week, India's ruling party introduced a bill to amend a landmark act that guaranteed women at least 33% seats in the legislatures.
As per this amendment, the women's quotas would come into force after redrawing of voter constituencies based on a 15-year-old population survey data.
India's opposition said this would disproportionately increase parliament legislators from North Indian states, which tend to vote for the BJP.
With the bill now defeated, the process to increase the number of women lawmakers will be delayed.
It will now depend on redistricting based on the upcoming population survey, which is scheduled to be completed only next year.
Earlier this week, India's ruling party introduced a bill to amend a landmark act that guaranteed women at least 33% seats in the legislatures.
As per this amendment, the women's quotas would come into force after redrawing of voter constituencies based on a 15-year-old population survey data.
India's opposition said this would disproportionately increase parliament legislators from North Indian states, which tend to vote for the BJP.
With the bill now defeated, the process to increase the number of women lawmakers will be delayed.
It will now depend on redistricting based on the upcoming population survey, which is scheduled to be completed only next year.
Omkar Khandekar, NPR News, New Delhi.
The announcement comes two weeks after the U.S.
and India agreed to a framework for an interim trade deal.
White House had said then that New Delhi committed to stop buying Russian oil in exchange for the U.S.
cutting tariffs on Indian goods.
Ambassador Sergio Gore said that officials from the Department of Energy were negotiating with their Indian counterparts and more details would emerge very soon.
India's foreign ministry says that it would import oil from Venezuela if it were commercially viable.
Reuters reports that at least three of India's oil companies, including its biggest private refinery run by the Reliance Group, have already placed purchase orders.
Omkar Khandekar, NPR News, New Delhi.