BREAKING| Centre Proposes Constitution Amendment To Increase Lok Sabha Seats To 850 & To Allow Delimitation Before 2026 Census

The Union Government has proposed a significant overhaul of the composition of the House of the People through The Constitution (One Hundred and Thirty First Amendment) Bill, 2026, which seeks to increase the strength of the Lok Sabha from the existing 543 members to 850 members.

The Bill will be taken up in the Special Session of the Parliament to be convened on April 16 and 17.

The Bill also proposes an amendment to Article 82 of the Constitution, which presently governs the process of readjustment of parliamentary constituencies following each Census.

Under the third proviso to Article 82, the Constitution currently mandates that the next delimitation exercise shall be undertaken on the basis of the first Census conducted after the year 2026. The proposed amendment seeks to delete this proviso in its entirety, thereby removing the constitutional requirement that delimitation must automatically follow the post-2026 Census. This would mean that the delimitation can be carried out before the 2026 Census.

As per the proposed amendment to Article 81, the House of People will have a maximum of 815 members to be chosen from the States. Also, not more than 35 members are to be chosen from the Union Territories in such manner as the Parliament may by law provide

Also, by removing the link between the delimitation and census, the Bill, if passed, can expedite the implementation of the 1/3rd women's reservation in the next election.

As per the Constitution (106th) Amendment Act, 2023, passed in September 2023, the women's reservation in Lok Sabha and State Assemblies will take place after the delimitation, which is carried out after the first Census following the enactment.

The present Bill proposes to amend Article 334A on women's reservation, to allow implementation of 1/3rd women's reservation in Lok Sabha and State Assemblies immediately after delimitation.

Along with the Constitution Amendment Bill, the Centre is also moving Delimitation Bill 2026, to repeal and replace the Delimitation Act, 2002.