REIMAGINING DELIMITATION

NEWS: India is approaching a major political and federal challenge:

Delimitation of Lok Sabha seats after 2026, likely before the 2029 General Elections

DELIMINATION

Delimitation means redistribution of parliamentary seats among States based on population

Constitutional background

• 84th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2001-Froze Lok Sabha seat allocation from 2000 to 2026

Census delay-

Census 2021 delayed and is expected by October 2028

After this:

• Delimitation Commission (DC)will be constituted
• New seat allocation likely before 2029 elections

Link with Finance Commission

• The Finance Commission (FC) uses population (50% weight) to distribute tax revenues
• Southern States:
• Contribute more to taxes
• Receive less transfers

Southern States–worried

• They followed the national goal of population stabilisation
• Now face: Loss of MPs, reduced bargaining power, democratic dilutionàThis undermines cooperative federalism

POSSIBLE SOLUTION

• Increase total seats but retain 2011 Census proportions–Estimated Lok Sabha size: ~866 MPs
• Give equal seats to every State (like the US Senate)
• Strengthen State legislature-Increase Vidhan Sabha seats
• Digressive Proportionality
• Larger States → more seats, but fewer per capita
• Smaller States → fewer seats, but more per capita weight