Reservation Ruse: Women's Quota Linked to Delimitation Raises Federal Equity Concerns
The Union government's move to link women's reservation (106th Amendment of 2023) with a post-Census delimitation, through the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, is seen as a political maneuver to reallocate Lok Sabha seats. Critics argue this will reshape Parliament's federal composition, benefiting states where the BJP is strong and disadvantaging those that have successfully controlled population growth. The Bill proposes to raise Lok Sabha membership to 850, remove the 1971 Census-based freeze on seat allocation, and use the 2011 Census for delimitation, leading to a significant shift in political power from southern to northern states.
मुख्य बिंदु
- The government is linking women's reservation with a post-Census delimitation exercise, which critics view as a political strategy to reallocate Lok Sabha seats.
- The proposed changes would significantly alter the federal composition of Parliament, potentially benefiting northern states at the expense of southern states.
- The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, aims to increase Lok Sabha membership to 850 and remove the existing freeze on seat allocation based on the 1971 Census.
- The use of the 2011 Census for delimitation would lead to a reduction in the share of parliamentary seats for states that have achieved population stabilization.
- Opposition parties are calling for resistance against this legislation, arguing it undermines the federal foundations of the Indian Union.
परीक्षा तथ्य
- The Constitution (106th Amendment of 2023) provides for one-third reservation for women in Lok Sabha and Assemblies.
- The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, proposes to amend Articles 55, 81, 82, 170, 330, 332, and 334A.
- The Bill aims to raise the Lok Sabha membership ceiling from 550 to 850 (815 for States, 35 for UTs).
- The freeze on seat allocation based on the 1971 Census, extended by the 84th Amendment of 2001, is proposed to be removed.
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स्पेस्ड-रिपीटिशन फ्लैशकार्ड, दैनिक क्विज़ और ऑफ़लाइन एक्सेस पाएं — एंड्रॉइड पर मुफ़्त।