The Delimitation Commission of India is a statutory and quasi-judicial body established by the Union Government under a Delimitation Commission Act to redraw the boundaries of Lok Sabha and State Assembly constituencies. The process of delimitation, which literally means fixing limits or boundaries, is mandated by Article 82 and Article 170 of the Constitution after every Census to ensure the principle of "One Vote One Value". This ensures that each constituency has a nearly equal population and provides fair representation by adjusting for demographic changes.
The first Delimitation Commission was set up in 1952 under the Delimitation Commission Act, 1952, and subsequent commissions were formed in 1963, 1973, and 2002. The process was suspended in 1976 by the 42nd Amendment to encourage states' family planning programs without penalizing them with reduced political representation. The 84th Amendment in 2001 extended this freeze on the total number of seats until the first Census conducted after the year 2026.
The Commission is appointed by the President of India and is typically composed of a retired Supreme Court judge as Chairperson, the Chief Election Commissioner, and the respective State Election Commissioners. Its orders have the force of law and are laid before the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies, but no modifications are permissible by them. While the orders were traditionally considered final and immune from challenge under Article 329(a) to prevent electoral delays, the Supreme Court recently clarified this position. In Kishorchandra Chhanganlal Rathod v. Union of India (2024), the Court held that judicial review is permissible if an order is found to be "manifestly arbitrary" and "irreconcilable to constitutional values". The next major delimitation exercise, which will involve the contentious task of redistributing seats among states, is due after the Census following 2026.