The Delimitation Bill, 2026
The article discusses the proposed Delimitation Bill, 2026, and related constitutional amendment bills (131st Amendment Bill, 2026) which aim to revise the delimitation process in India. Currently, Lok Sabha and State Assembly seats are frozen based on the 1971 census until after 2026 (extended by the 84th Amendment). The proposed bills seek to enable delimitation based on the 2011 census, increase the maximum number of Lok Sabha seats from 550 to 850, and remove the census requirement for the commencement of women's reservation (106th Amendment, 2023). It highlights issues such as the shift in relative seat share among states (benefiting northern states, reducing southern states' representation), changes in the relative power of Lok Sabha vs. Rajya Sabha, and the potential increase in the size of the Council of Ministers. The article also details the proposed composition of the Delimitation Commission and raises concerns about parliamentary control over delimitation timing and census usage.
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