The Union government is considering the introduction of a detailed “schedule” in Parliament to specify the allocation of Lok Sabha seats for each state, even as it moves forward with a proposal to expand the overall strength of the House. Sources indicate that while the total number of seats may increase, the proportional share of each state in the Lok Sabha is likely to remain unchanged.
The proposed schedule—typically an annexure to legislation providing detailed clarifications—is expected to outline state-wise seat distribution, addressing growing concerns over the impending delimitation exercise. The government may also present these clarifications on the floor of the House to reassure states apprehensive about potential changes to their political representation.
Concerns Over Delimitation
The move comes amid strong objections from several states, particularly in southern India and regions such as Odisha, which argue that delimitation based on population could disadvantage states that have effectively implemented population control measures. These states fear a reduction in their relative representation in Parliament despite their developmental progress.
Key Legislative Proposals
Three significant bills are scheduled to be introduced during the special sitting of the Budget session:
- The Constitution (One Hundred and Thirty-First Amendment) Bill, 2026
- The Delimitation Bill, 2026
- The Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026
The first two will be introduced by Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, while Home Minister Amit Shah will present the third.
Additionally, the government is expected to move a motion to suspend provisions of Rule 66 of the Lok Sabha Rules of Procedure to facilitate the simultaneous consideration and passage of the Delimitation Bill and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, given their linkage to the constitutional amendment.
Women’s Reservation and Seat Expansion
The proposed constitutional amendment is central to operationalising the long-pending women’s reservation policy. The government aims to implement 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, including seats reserved for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
To accommodate this, the government has proposed increasing the Lok Sabha’s strength from the current 543 seats to 850. Of these, 815 seats would be allocated to states and 35 to Union Territories. The amendment seeks to revise Article 81 of the Constitution to reflect this expansion.
However, the implementation of women’s reservation is tied to a fresh delimitation exercise based on the latest available census data, currently the 2011 Census. Officials acknowledge that conducting a new census and subsequent delimitation could delay the rollout of the reservation policy.
Opposition Raises Concerns
While opposition parties have broadly supported the principle of women’s reservation, they have expressed reservations about linking it to delimitation. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge reiterated support for the quota but criticised the government’s approach, stating that concerns remain over the framework being proposed.
Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh and other opposition figures have called for the immediate implementation of women’s reservation based on the existing Lok Sabha strength of 543 seats, without waiting for delimitation. Rahul Gandhi also raised concerns over the concentration of powers in a government-appointed Delimitation Commission, advocating for a transparent and consultative process.
Several opposition leaders have further demanded that any delimitation exercise take into account data from a caste census to ensure equitable representation, warning that the current proposal could disadvantage certain states.
Government’s Position
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has rejected these criticisms, asserting that no state will lose representation under the proposed framework. Senior BJP leader Anurag Thakur accused the opposition of politicising the issue and reiterated the government’s commitment to the Nari Shakti Vandan Act, aimed at empowering women through political representation.
The proposed introduction of a schedule detailing state-wise seat allocation—while maintaining existing proportional shares—is being viewed as a strategic effort by the government to address political concerns and build consensus around the delimitation process and the broader constitutional amendments.
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