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20 July 2026

Delimitation exercise and Constitutional Amendment

The delimitation of constituencies and the reallocation of Lok Sabha seats are core constitutional issues directly impacting federal balance and parliamentary representation, making them highly probable topics for direct examination.

2 min read Day 10 of 24 2 questions 2 prelims

Notes

  • The 131st Constitutional Amendment Bill and the Delimitation Bill proposed increasing the Lok Sabha strength to a maximum of 850 seats.
  • Current constitutional provisions tie the allocation of seats among States to the 1971 Census and the delimitation of constituencies within States to the 2001 Census.
  • The existing freeze on the redistribution of Lok Sabha seats is set to expire after the first Census conducted post-2026.
  • Previous freezes on seat redistribution were implemented in 1976 (until 2001) and 2001 (until 2026), each for a 25-year duration.
  • The proposed April legislation aimed to replace specific Census references (1971 and 2001) with the 'latest Census' (2011), which would necessitate a reallocation of seats based on current population figures.
  • Constitutional amendments require a two-thirds majority in the Lok Sabha for passage.
  • Articles 81 and 82 of the Constitution provide the legal framework for the allocation of seats and the delimitation of constituencies.
  • Maintaining the existing proportional distribution of seats among States is considered essential for preserving federal balance in the Indian polity.

Part of a longer story

This is day 10 of 24 in Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill, 2025, which has been running since 2 July 2026. Reading it whole is usually worth more than reading today alone — the exam asks how something developed.

Questions

  1. Discuss the constitutional significance of the 'freeze' on the delimitation of parliamentary constituencies. How does the periodic extension of this freeze impact the federal balance in India? 150 words
    Attempt this — 150 words in 8 min
    0 / 150 words 8:00
  2. The delimitation of constituencies is a complex exercise balancing demographic representation with regional equity. Critically examine the challenges involved in reconciling the need for updated constituency boundaries with the constitutional guarantee of proportional state-wise representation in the Lok Sabha. 250 words
    Attempt this — 250 words in 11 min
    0 / 250 words 11:00

Prelims

  1. Under the current provisions of the Indian Constitution, the allocation of Lok Sabha seats among the States is based on which Census?

  2. Which of the following articles of the Constitution of India deal with the readjustment of representation in the Lok Sabha after each census?

Syllabus

Topics

Sources

250words.in · https://250words.in/daily/2026-07-20/delimitation-exercise-and-constitutional-amendment