Notwithstanding the euphoria over passage of the women's quota bill in Rajya Sabha, it is going to be a long haul before this can be implemented. By a conservative estimate, it may take about two years.

The next step obviously is for the government to introduce it in Lok Sabha and get it passed.

Then it would be sent to the state assemblies for ratification. Since this constitutional amendment affects the states it would have to be passed through a resolution by at least half of the state legislative bodies.

Then it will come back to the president for her assent and would subsequently be notified. The bill would then become a law.

The process does not end here. The government would have to set up a delimitation commission to earmark the constituencies to be reserved for the women.

The government would also require to suitably amend the People's Representation Act providing for the reservation.

All these may take up to two years.

According to a senior official dealing with the matter, the women's reservation would not come into effect before 2012, provided everything goes smoothly.