Delimitation, Women’s Quota

Context

The upcoming Census in India, expected to commence in 2025 and conclude by 2026, carries significant implications for two crucial exercises: delimitation of constituencies and women’s reservation in elected bodies.

Delimitation Exercise

• Delimitation involves redrawing the boundaries of electoral constituencies based on the latest Census data, conducted by an appointed Delimitation Commission.
• Since Independence, although the Census has been conducted every decade, delimitation exercises have occurred only four times: 1952, 1953, 1973, and 2002.
• The last delimitation adjusted boundaries but did not increase the number of seats, which has remained frozen since the 1976 amendment.

Constitutional Amendments and Seat Allocation

• Article 82: Calls for readjustment of constituencies post each Census.
• The 42nd Amendment (1976) froze delimitation until after the first Census conducted after 2000, extended again in 2001 to defer seat changes until after the first Census following 2026.
• Article 170 defines “population” as per the last published Census, which is currently the 2001 Census.
• Upcoming Census data will require constitutional amendments, including Articles 81, 170, and 55, to permit delimitation for the next Lok Sabha election based on updated population numbers.

Challenges and Political Considerations

• Regional Imbalances: Northern states, where populations have grown more quickly, may gain additional seats, which could mean fewer seats for Southern states that have done a better job of managing population growth.
  • This situation raises concerns about fairness and representation across different regions.
• Building Consensus: The delimitation process can adjust seats based on geography, existing district boundaries, and ease of communication.
  • However, the issues that led to delays in past exercises, like in 1976 and 2001—mainly about regional population differences—still need to be addressed to ensure a fair process.

Women’s Reservation

• The 128th Constitutional Amendment (September 2023) reserves 33% of seats in Lok Sabha and state Assemblies for women, contingent upon a delimitation exercise based on the next Census data.
• The reservation would become effective after delimitation based on the Census post-2026, with a 15-year implementation period from the date of commencement.

Impact on Parliamentary Seats

• If reservation applies to the current 545-member Lok Sabha, 182 seats would be reserved for women, reducing men’s representation to 363 seats.
• With the anticipated increase in Lok Sabha seats to around 770 post-delimitation, women would be allocated 257 seats, leaving 513 for men, easing political concerns about male politicians losing seats.

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