Paper: GS – II, Subject: Polity, Topic: Federalism, Issue: Delimitation and Federal Balance in India.
Context:
With the freeze on delimitation set to end after the first Census conducted post-2026, India is approaching a decisive moment for its democratic and federal structure. The Census 2027 will reopen the redistribution of Lok Sabha seats among States, potentially reshaping political power for decades.
Key Highlights:
What is Delimitation and Why It Matters:
Delimitation is the constitutional process of redrawing parliamentary and Assembly constituencies based on population changes, guided by Articles 82 and 170. Although constitutionally mandated after every Census, inter-State seat distribution has remained frozen since 1976, using 1971 Census data, to avoid penalising States that adopted population control.
The Core Dilemma: Population vs Performance:
India’s demographic transition has been uneven.
- Southern & Western States have achieved below-replacement fertility through better health, education, and women’s empowerment.
- Northern States (UP, Bihar, MP, Rajasthan) continue to record higher fertility and faster population growth.
If representation is based purely on population, UP’s seats could rise from ~80 to ~150 and Bihar’s from ~40 to ~82, together accounting for over one-fourth of the Lok Sabha—raising a key moral question: should States be politically penalised for successful population control?
Federal and Political Implications:
- Parliament works on absolute numbers, not proportional influence.Â
- Southern States may see reduced bargaining power despite governance success.Â
- Risk of over-centralisation and erosion of cooperative federalism.Â
- Coalition politics could tilt decisively toward high-population States.Â
Role of the Delimitation Commission:
The next Delimitation Commission will:
- Reallocate seats among States (first since 1976)Â
- Redraw internal constituency boundariesÂ
- Determine locations of SC/ST reserved constituenciesÂ
These discretionary powers make transparency and institutional neutrality critical.
Options Under Discussion:
- Extend the Freeze:Â Preserves federal balance but weakens equal suffrage.Â
- Expand Lok Sabha Strength:Â Increase total seats so no State loses representation.Â
- Weighted Formula:Â Combine population with indicators like fertility reduction, health, and education.Â
- Strengthen Rajya Sabha:Â Reinforce its role as a federal counterweight.Â
- Phased Delimitation:Â Gradual redistribution to allow political adjustment.Â
Why Process is Crucial:
Beyond formulas, legitimacy will depend on:
- Inclusion of demographers and constitutional expertsÂ
- State consultations and public hearingsÂ
- Clear, published reasoning for decisionsÂ
A rushed, arithmetic-driven approach risks deepening North–South divides.
Conclusion:
Delimitation after 2027 is not a technical correction but a recalibration of India’s political compact. Handled with constitutional balance and federal sensitivity, it can modernise representation. Handled poorly, it risks eroding trust and weakening India’s federal spirit. The real challenge is not counting India’s people—but representing them fairly.
Source: (The Hindu)
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