Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026: Delimitation and Women's Reservation
UPSC / SSC current affairs note · Polity
Why in news
Three delimitation bills introduced in Lok Sabha on April 16, 2026, aim to increase Lok Sabha seats to 850, enable delimitation based on 2011 census, and remove the census-linked trigger for women's reservation. The bills were negatived on April 17, 2026, but their provisions are critical for upcoming elections and representation.
Background
Seats in Lok Sabha and state assemblies were frozen based on 1971 census by the 42nd Amendment (1976), extended by 84th Amendment (2001) until first census after 2026. The 106th Amendment (2023) reserved one-third seats for women, effective from first census after its commencement. The 2027 census reference date makes it unlikely for women's reservation to apply to 2029 elections without legislative change.
Key facts
The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026 increases maximum Lok Sabha seats from 550 to 850 (states: 530 to 815; UTs: 20 to 35).
It reverts to the principle of seats allocated to states in proportion to their population, ensuring equal population per constituency across states.
Parliament is authorized to decide which census to use for delimitation; the Delimitation Bill, 2026 specifies the latest published census (currently 2011) will be used.
The bill removes the requirement that women's reservation (106th Amendment) be based on the first census after the 2023 Act, enabling earlier implementation.
The Delimitation Commission will consist of a chairperson who is or has been a Supreme Court judge, plus other members as specified.
The Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026 extends similar provisions to Puducherry, Delhi, and Jammu & Kashmir.
The last Delimitation Commission was constituted in 2002, with orders finalized in 2008.
The bills were introduced on April 16, 2026, and negatived in Lok Sabha on April 17, 2026.
Prelims pointers
- Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026
- Delimitation Bill, 2026
- Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026
- 106th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2023 (women's reservation)
- 42nd Amendment (1976) and 84th Amendment (2001) on seat freeze
- Maximum Lok Sabha seats: currently 550 (530 states + 20 UTs); proposed 850 (815 + 35)
- Delimitation Commission composition: chairperson (Supreme Court judge or former judge)
- Reference date for 2027 census: March 1, 2027
- Last delimitation: 2002 Commission, orders finalized 2008
Mains angles
- Discuss the constitutional and political implications of increasing Lok Sabha seats and changing the basis of delimitation.
- Critically examine the impact of delinking women's reservation from the census on gender representation in legislatures.
- Analyze the balance between population proportionality and federal representation in the context of delimitation.
- Evaluate the need for delimitation based on 2011 census versus 2027 census in light of demographic changes.