States that stabilised population will not lose Lok Sabha seats: Modi
Prime Minister Modi addresses concerns over proposed delimitation exercise for the first time, says seats will not be reduced without specifying if its absolute numbers of proportion
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Context
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that the government plans to introduce constitutional amendments to prevent states with lower population growth, particularly southern states, from losing Lok Sabha seats in the upcoming delimitation exercise. The proposal involves increasing the total number of seats in the Lok Sabha to accommodate these changes and implement the 33% women's reservation, as mandated by the , by creating additional seats. This move aims to address fears that a population-based reapportionment would penalize states that have successfully implemented population control measures.
UPSC Perspectives
Polity
This development brings into focus the complex interplay between democratic representation and federal dynamics, governed by constitutional provisions on delimitation. Delimitation is the process of redrawing boundaries of Lok Sabha and state assembly seats to represent changes in population. of the Constitution mandates the readjustment of seats after every census. However, to encourage population control, the , extended a freeze on the total number of Lok Sabha seats for each state until the first census after 2026, keeping the allocation based on the 1971 census. The current proposal seeks to amend the Constitution to navigate this challenge. By increasing the overall size of the Lok Sabha, the government can protect the existing seat count of states like Kerala and Tamil Nadu while also giving more representation to more populous northern states, thus balancing the principle of 'one person, one vote' with federal concerns. This will require a Constitutional Amendment Bill passed by a special majority in both Houses of Parliament.
Social
The proposed changes are deeply connected to India's demographic transition and gender justice goals. The southern states' success in lowering their Total Fertility Rate (TFR) below the replacement level of 2.1 is a positive development indicator, linked to higher female literacy and better health outcomes. The fear was that this success would be 'punished' with reduced political influence, creating a North-South divide. The PM's assurance aims to de-link population control from political representation, rewarding rather than penalizing demographic achievement. Furthermore, linking this exercise with the implementation of the [Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam] (Constitution (106th Amendment) Act, 2023) is a significant step for women's political empowerment. The Act provides for 33% reservation for women, but its implementation is contingent on the completion of a census and the subsequent delimitation. By creating additional seats for women, the proposal avoids reducing the number of general seats available to male politicians, a factor that has historically stalled the Women's Reservation Bill.
Governance
From a governance perspective, this move involves complex legislative and administrative procedures. The first step is passing a Constitutional Amendment Bill to alter the provisions of (composition of the Lok Sabha) and potentially . Any amendment affecting the representation of states in Parliament requires ratification by at least half of the state legislatures, making it a test of cooperative federalism. Following the constitutional changes, the government would need to constitute a [Delimitation Commission], a high-powered body whose orders have the force of law and cannot be challenged in court. This Commission will undertake the massive task of redrawing constituencies and allocating the new seats, including those reserved for women and Scheduled Castes/Tribes. The entire process, from passing the amendments to the final notification of new constituencies, must be completed before the 2029 general election, presenting a tight and challenging timeline.