Redrawing India’s Delimitation: A Billion Voices, One Vote

Delimitation is the exercise of determining the number and boundaries of geographical constituencies for the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies to provide equal representation with respect to population changes, as required by Articles 82 and 170 of the Constitution. However, the restriction on changing the number of seats based on 1971 data, set by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment (1976) and the 84th Amendment (2002) and extended until after 2026, has led to imbalances. As India approaches this vital exercise, it risks increasing the North-South and Northeast divides, affecting the federal balance.

The Government of India plans to conduct the delayed 2021 Census in 2025, finishing by 2026 to facilitate the delimitation process. This aligns with constitutional requirements and the timing for implementing women's reservations. The approach includes forming a Delimitation Commission post-Census, nationwide consultations, and amending constitutional provisions to raise the Lok Sabha seat limit to 800-850 while safeguarding states with low population growth. Approval and implementation are set for 2029, with long-term reforms encompassing a permanent commission, hybrid models for southern states, urban planning integration, and enhanced public transparency.

The Indian Constitution regulates electoral delimitation by redefining election boundaries following each census to ensure fairness, with Article 82 updating Lok Sabha seats, Article 170 handling state assemblies, and an independent Delimitation Commission overseeing the process. Article 81 limits the Lok Sabha to 550 MPs with equal population representation, whereas Articles 330 and 332 reserve seats for Scheduled Castes and Tribes based on population share, and Article 329(a) prohibits court challenges to prevent election delays. Major amendments froze seat counts from the 1971 Census (extended to post-2026 by the 42nd, 84th, and 87th revisions) and included 33% women's reservation through the 106th. The President appoints the Commission, which is chaired by a retired Supreme Court judge and includes election officials; its final decisions are not subject to parliamentary or assembly review.

The Indian Constitution requires revisions to effectively address contemporary issues and ensure equitable representation. Key revisions include unfreezing Lok Sabha seat allocation, which is currently frozen until 2026, and amending Article 82 for proportional distribution of seats to reconcile the disparities between populous and smaller states. Additionally, increasing the Lok Sabha seat cap from 550 to 800-850 would improve the MP-to-population ratio, thereby enhancing governance. The protection of the federal balance is crucial, especially for southern states, as a hybrid formula may help maintain their representation despite changes in population dynamics. The timelines for women's reservation under Articles 82 and 170 need specification to facilitate smooth implementation. Challenges include the North-South divide, exacerbated by slower population growth in the South, leading to significant seat shifts, such as Uttar Pradesh potentially gaining 143 seats. Unequal representation persists due to the 1971 freeze, resulting in constituencies with vastly different populations. Updated data is also needed for SC/ST reservations owing to urban migration. Achieving a 33% women's reservation by 2026 demands thorough planning amid political and logistical issues, including regional tensions, a delayed census, and urban-rural disparities affecting fair delimitation.

The government intends to perform the postponed 2021 Census in 2025-26, allowing for delimitation thereafter. Although no new Delimitation Commission has been constituted, internal preparations continue. Southern and northeast states, particularly those with minority representation, have received assurances that their interests will be protected. The 106th Amendment supports women's representation. The government promises broad public consultations with states and parties before delimitation, but critics point out the lack of a defined framework to combine population-based representation with federal equity.

To enact a fair delimitation process for 2025-2029, the following steps are proposed: Complete the 2021 Census by mid-2026 using digital tools, establish a Delimitation Commission post-Census to address population balance and federalism, consult on a hybrid model to represent minority interests, amend Articles 81 and 82 to increase Lok Sabha seats from 800 to 850, redistrict using GIS mapping for equal

Amend Articles 81 and 82 to ensure equitable seat allocation and federal balance: a hybrid arrangement ensures that no seats are lost in the southern states.  strengthen the Commission with a varied range of specialists; Fast-track the Census to ensure valid data;  Engage states early through a parliamentary committee; women's reservation models will be tested prior to 2029;  Increase transparency by releasing public delimitation drafts.

Delimitation is more than a technical issue; it is also a democratic and political challenge. While northern states demand more equitable representation, Southern and Northeast grievances highlight the necessity for delicate reforms to avert alienation. To reconcile equality and unity, these solutions will require political will, possibly in the form of a new constitutional amendment.

Dr Mughavi A Tuccu,

Political Strategies,

New Delhi.