Women and Gender Justice — Amendments

Amendment	Year	Description	Impact
86th Constitutional Amendment Act	2002	Inserted Article 21A, making elementary education a fundamental right for children aged 6-14 years. While not exclusively for women, it significantly impacts girls' access to education.	Crucial for promoting girls' literacy and enrollment, breaking cycles of disadvantage, and empowering them through education, thereby contributing to gender equality.
Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act	2017	Amended the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961, increasing paid maternity leave from 12 to 26 weeks, introducing leave for commissioning and adopting mothers, and mandating crèche facilities.	Enhanced support for working mothers, promoting women's retention in the workforce, improving maternal and child health outcomes, and addressing the care burden, though implementation challenges remain.
Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam (106th Constitutional Amendment Act)	2023	Provides for 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha, State Legislative Assemblies, and the Legislative Assembly of the National Capital Territory of Delhi.	Aims to significantly boost women's political representation, ensuring their greater participation in law-making and governance, though its implementation is contingent on future delimitation and census.