Abstract: Gender quotas have emerged as an important mechanism for promoting women's political representation across the world. This paper examines the historical development of gender quotas, analyses contemporary global and regional trends in their adoption at parliamentary and local government levels, and explores the debates surrounding their merits and demerits. Drawing on data from the International IDEA and United Nations Gender Quota Portal, the study highlights variations in quota types, targets, electoral systems, and legal frameworks across regions. It further evaluates the role of gender quotas in advancing political inclusion while addressing concerns related to merit, tokenism, and democratic representation.

Keywords: Gender Quotas, Gender Equality, Women, Reservation, Parliament, Local Government, Electoral System, Representation, Governance, Decision-making, Political Parties.