Why delimitation row is not over, Pg9

Key Highlights:

• The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, aimed at implementing women's reservation in an expanded Lok Sabha, failed to pass, delaying the delimitation process by a year.
• Article 81 of the Constitution governs the delimitation of constituencies based on population figures.
• The current freeze on delimitation, based on the 1971 Census for inter-state seat allocation and the 2001 Census for intra-state allocation, may lapse after the 2027 Census.
• States like Kerala and Tamil Nadu may lose seats, while Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Maharashtra may gain seats if delimitation reflects current population figures.

Detailed Insights:

• The Atal Bihari Vajpayee government initially froze delimitation in 2001 for 25 years, using the 1971 Census to determine the inter-state distribution of seats.
• Article 81(2)(a) mandates that the number of Lok Sabha seats allocated to each state should maintain a ratio proportionate to its population, as far as practicable.
• Article 81(2)(b) requires states to be divided into territorial constituencies to ensure a uniform ratio between population and allocated seats within the state.
• The Cabinet's December 12, 2025 press release outlined the Census exercise, with the Population Enumeration phase scheduled for February 2027, potentially providing data to trigger delimitation.
• If the freeze on delimitation is not extended, the constitutional principle of one person, one vote, one value will necessitate a redistribution of seats based on the latest Census data.
• Southern states may pressure the Centre to introduce a Constitutional Amendment Bill to further extend the freeze on delimitation, potentially gaining support from BJP ally TDP.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Delimitation: The process of redrawing constituency boundaries to reflect population changes.
• Census: A periodic count of a country's population, gathering demographic and socio-economic data.
• Article 81: Constitutional provision governing the composition of the Lok Sabha and the allocation of seats to states.