Proposed Lok Sabha seat reallocation: Implications for States and Constitutional changes
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah announced a proposed increase in Lok Sabha seats from 550 to 850, assuring that each state would receive an additional 50% seats while maintaining the current proportion based on the 1971 population. The current system, governed by Articles 81 and 82, ties seat allocation to the 1971 Census and territorial constituency division to the 2001 Census, with a freeze until the first census after 2026. The new Bills aim to remove this 2026 sunset proviso, immediately reallocating seats based on the latest census (2011 Census), and linking both steps to the same census. This change removes a constitutional safeguard for states that stabilized their population, potentially altering the balance of representation.
Key Points
- The government proposes increasing Lok Sabha seats from 550 to 850, with each state getting an additional 50% seats.
- The current seat allocation is based on the 1971 Census, and the proposed change aims to maintain this proportion.
- Existing constitutional provisions (Articles 81 and 82) freeze seat readjustment until after the first census post-2026.
- New Bills seek to remove the 2026 sunset proviso and base reallocation immediately on the latest census (2011 Census).
- This amendment would remove a safeguard for states with stabilized populations, potentially impacting federalism and representation.
Exam Facts
- Proposed increase in Lok Sabha seats from 550 to a maximum of 850.
- Current seat proportion is based on the 1971 population (determined in 1973).
- Articles 81 and 82 of the Constitution govern Lok Sabha seat distribution.
- Amendments by Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 2001 and 2003 tied seat distribution to 1971 Census and territorial constituencies to 2001 Census.
- The sunset proviso of 2026 is proposed to be removed.
- The draft Delimitation Bill seeks to use the 2011 Census as the basis for both steps.
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