New Delhi, Aug 20 - The cabinet Thursday deferred a decision on raising reservation for women in panchayats to 50 percent from 33 percent as the minister concerned could not be present.

'A decision on raising reservations for women in the panchayats could not be taken as the concerned minister (C.P. Joshi) could not attend. He asked that this item be deferred,' Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni told reporters after a cabinet meeting presided over by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Currently, 33 percent of seats in panchayats are reserved for women. Madhya Pradesh and Kerala have already raised this to 50 percent while Rajasthan also intends to do so.