India's lower house votes to reserve third of seats for women

India's lower house of parliament passed a bill that would more than double the number of women lawmakers in its ranks, following several failed attempts to enact the measure stretching back decades.

The proposed law would reserve one-third of seats in India's lower house and state assemblies for women once it takes effect, which could take until at least the end of the decade. A total of 454 lawmakers voted for the bill, with only two against.

The bill proposes a constitutional amendment to enshrine a one-third quota reserved for women, requiring a two-thirds majority in both houses of parliament to succeed. Its passage through the upper house is expected to be smooth thanks to broad political support for the measure.