<h2>मुख्य विकास</h2>
<p>On <strong>April 16, 2026</strong>, Parliament introduced two bills that could reshape the composition of the <span class="key-term" data-definition="Lok Sabha — Lower house of India’s Parliament, representing the people; its strength and seat allocation affect federal representation (GS2: Polity)">Lok Sabha</span>. The proposals aim to raise its strength from 543 to 850 seats and to replace the long‑standing freeze on seat allocation that has been tied to the <span class="key-term" data-definition="1971 Census — The census data that has been used since 1976 to determine the number of seats for each state, creating a “freeze” on representation (GS3: Economy)">1971 Census</span>. The changes are driven by the need to operationalise women’s reservation under the <span class="key-term" data-definition="Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam 2023 — Law mandating reservation for women in Parliament, prompting the need for seat increase (GS2: Polity)">Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam 2023</span>.</p>
<h3>मुख्य विकास</h3>
<ul>
<li>Raise the <span class="key-term" data-definition="Lok Sabha — Lower house of India’s Parliament, representing the people; its strength and seat allocation affect federal representation (GS2: Polity)">Lok Sabha</span> ceiling to <strong>850 seats</strong> (815 for States, 35 for <span class="key-term" data-definition="Union Territories — Administrative divisions directly governed by the Centre; they will get 35 seats under the proposed increase (GS2: Polity)">Union Territories</span>).</li>
<li>Replace the constitutional freeze that ties seat allocation to the <span class="key-term" data-definition="1971 Census — The census data that has been used since 1976 to determine the number of seats for each state, creating a “freeze” on representation (GS3: Economy)">1971 Census</span> with an open‑ended formula, allowing Parliament to choose the census basis by ordinary law.</li>
<li>Set up a <span class="key-term" data-definition="Delimitation Commission — Independent body tasked with redrawing electoral boundaries to ensure equitable representation (GS2: Polity)">Delimitation Commission</span> that will use the latest published census — currently the <span class="key-term" data-definition="2011 Census — The most recent population count used for seat allocation; its data will guide the new delimitation (GS3: Economy)">2011 Census</span> — to redraw constituency boundaries and re‑allocate seats.</li>
<li>Both measures are introduced through the <span class="key-term" data-definition="Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill — Proposed amendment to increase Lok Sabha seats and modify seat allocation criteria (GS2: Polity)">Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill</span> and the companion <span class="key-term" data-definition="Delimitation Bill — Legislation to set up a Delimitation Commission for redrawing constituency boundaries based on the latest census (GS2: Polity)">Delimitation Bill</span>.</li>
</ul>
<h3>महत्वपूर्ण F</h3>