Delimitation

About
Delimitation in India refers to the process of redrawing the boundaries of Lok Sabha and State Assembly constituencies based on changes in population. This is done to ensure fair representation as population shifts over time. The process is carried out by the Delimitation Commission, which operates independently and its decisions cannot be challenged in court.
Key Points About Delimitation in India
  1. Constitutional Basis 
    • Governed by Articles 82 and 170 of the Indian
    • Parliament enacts a Delimitation Act after every
    • The Delimitation Commission is then set up to carry out the

  2. Last Delimitation

    • The last delimitation exercise was conducted in 2002, based on the 1971 Census.
    • However, the number of seats was frozen until 2026 to control population growth.

  3. Upcoming Delimitation

    • A new delimitation is expected after the 2026 Census, which may significantly alter the political landscape, especially for states with high or low population growth.
    • Southern states with better population control may lose seats, while northern states with higher growth could gain.

  4. Special Cases

    • Jammu & Kashmir had a separate Delimitation Commission (2020- 2022) after the abrogation of Article 370.
    • The number of assembly seats in J&K increased from 83 to 90.

  5. Impact of Delimitation

  • Political Representation: Some states may gain or lose seats in Parliament and Assemblies.
  • Regional Balance: Northern states like UP, Bihar, and MP could get more seats.

  • Reservation Changes: SC/ST seat reservations are also revised based on the new population data


Challenges of Delimitation in India

Delimitation is a crucial process for ensuring fair representation, but it comes with several political, social, and administrative challenges:

1.  Political Challenges North-South Divide:

  • Southern states (like Tamil Nadu, Kerala) have controlled population growth through effective policies, but they might lose parliamentary
  • Northern states (like UP, Bihar) have higher population growth and could gain more seats, creating regional tensions.

2. Resistance from Political Parties:

  • Parties fear losing their strongholds if boundaries are
  • Changes in the number of seats can alter power dynamics at the national and state levels.

3.Reservation Adjustments:

  • The process also revises SC/ST reserved constituencies based on population changes, affecting political calculations.

4.Population vs. Governance Balance:

  • Rewarding states with higher population growth could discourage family
  • Southern states argue that efficient governance should be rewarded, not punished.

5.Ethnic & Linguistic Issues:


  • Redrawing constituency boundaries can impact local communities and minority representation.
  • States with strong regional identities (Northeast, Tamil Nadu) may see tensions over changes.

6.  Administrative Challenges Delayed Implementation:

  • The current seat freeze (based on 1971 Census) has made representation
  • A new delimitation process after 2026 may lead to major disruptions. Census Dependency:
  • Since India has not conducted a Census since 2011, accurate population data is missing.
  • Without fresh Census data, fair delimitation becomes

7.Legal & Constitutional Complexities:

  • Any change in the number of seats in Parliament may require a

8.constitutional amendment.

The Supreme Court cannot review Delimitation Commission decisions, limiting legal recourse
Way Forward
  • Balancing Representation & Development: A formula to ensure fair representation without punishing states with low population
  • Electoral Reforms: Alternatives like weighted representation (based on governance and not just population).
  • Consensus Building: Dialogue among states to ensure a smooth transition
 
 
 
 
-- Daily News Section Compiled

    By Vishwas Nimbalkar
 
 
 
 
Posted by on 8th Mar 2025
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