Delimitation Commission in India: An Overview

Introduction

The Delimitation Commission in India is a crucial body responsible for redrawing the boundaries of parliamentary and assembly constituencies based on population changes. This process ensures equitable representation and maintains the balance of electoral democracy. The commission operates independently and plays a vital role in upholding the principles of free and fair elections.

Why in News?

The delimitation of constituencies for the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies is to be carried out on the basis of the first Census after 2026. The 2021 Census was originally postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent delays by the Central Government.

What is Delimitation?

Delimitation refers to the process of fixing the number of seats and boundaries of territorial constituencies in each state for the Lok Sabha and Legislative Assemblies. It also includes determining the seats reserved for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) in these houses. This process is conducted by the Delimitation Commission, which is set up under an act of Parliament.

Constitutional Basis

The Delimitation Commission derives its authority from Articles 82 and 170 of the Indian Constitution.

• Article 82 mandates the reallocation of Lok Sabha seats among states after every census.

• Article 170 deals with the readjustment of the number and boundaries of legislative assembly constituencies within states.

The process of delimitation is carried out through a Delimitation Act, enacted by Parliament after every census.

Composition of the Delimitation Commission in India

The Delimitation Commission is appointed by the President of India and usually comprises:

1. A retired Supreme Court judge as the chairperson.

2. The Chief Election Commissioner or an Election Commissioner nominated by the CEC.

3. The State Election Commissioners of respective states.

History of Delimitation in India

Delimitation Commissions have been set up four times: 1952, 1963, 1973, and 2002 under the respective Acts of Parliament. The first delimitation exercise in 1950-51 was conducted by the President with the help of the Election Commission.

The last major delimitation exercise that changed the state-wise composition of the Lok Sabha was in 1976, based on the 1971 Census. However, to avoid states with higher population growth gaining undue advantage, the 42nd Amendment Act (1976) froze the number of Lok Sabha seats until 2000, which was later extended by the 84th Amendment (2001) until 2026.

The 87th Amendment Act (2003) allowed delimitation based on the 2001 Census, but without altering the number of seats allotted to each state.

Significance of Delimitation

1. Representation: Ensures fair representation in the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies based on population changes, upholding the democratic principle of “one citizen-one vote-one value.”

2. Equity: Adjusts territorial constituencies to prevent underrepresentation or overrepresentation.

3. Reserved Seats for SC/ST: Determines the allocation of reserved seats for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) as per constitutional provisions.

4. Federalism: Impacts political power distribution among states, balancing representation and federal considerations.

5. Population Control Measures: Earlier freezing of seats incentivized population control measures, raising concerns about its impact on state representation in the upcoming delimitation.

Concerns Related to Delimitation

1. Regional Disparity:

   • Southern states, despite better population control, may lose representation in comparison to northern states.

   • The southern states contribute 35% to India’s GDP, but hold only 18% of the population.

2. Inadequate Funding:

   • The 15th Finance Commission used the 2011 Census for funding allocations, raising concerns about southern states losing funding and representation.

3. Impact on Reservations:

   • The reallocation of seats could shift power towards northern states, affecting SC/ST representation in Parliament.

International Practices

1. United States:

   • The House of Representatives has been capped at 435 seats since 1913.

   • Seats are redistributed among states every 10 years through the method of equal proportion, ensuring minimal changes to representation.

2. European Union (EU):

   • The EU Parliament (720 seats) follows the principle of “degressive proportionality”, meaning smaller nations have proportionally more representation compared to larger ones.

Recent Developments and Challenges

1. Jammu & Kashmir Delimitation (2022): After the abrogation of Article 370, a special Delimitation Commission redrew constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir.

2. Upcoming Delimitation (2026): With the freeze ending, debates focus on how 2021 Census data will impact representation.

3. Challenges:

   • Political Implications: Changes in seat allocation could alter political power between states.

   • Demographic Pressures: Balancing population growth with fair representation remains a challenge.

Conclusion

The Delimitation Commission plays a critical role in India’s democratic structure by ensuring fair electoral representation. With the 2026 delimitation exercise approaching, discussions on balancing population growth, representation, and federal principles will shape the future of Indian democracy. Ensuring transparency, fairness, and inclusivity in the process is essential to maintaining public trust in the electoral system.