Overview
On 16 April 2026, the Union Government moved three bills in the Lok Sabha: the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, the Delimitation Bill, and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill. The amendment sought to expand the size of the Lok Sabha to 850 seats and empower a new delimitation exercise using the 2011 population census. The amendment failed to secure the required two‑thirds majority, prompting the government to withdraw the other two bills as well.
Key Developments
- The 131st Amendment Bill did not achieve the constitutional two‑thirds majority and was defeated.
- Following the defeat, the government withdrew the Delimitation Bill and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill.
- The proposal would have raised the number of Lok Sabha seats by 307, a 56% increase, altering the balance of representation among states.
- Delimitation based on the 2011 Census would have re‑drawn constituency boundaries after a gap of nearly three decades, affecting electoral politics.
Important Facts
- Current Lok Sabha strength: 543 elected members.
- Proposed strength: 850 members.
- Delimitation has not been undertaken since the 2001 Census; the 2011 data remains unused for parliamentary re‑allocation.
- Constitutional amendment requires a two‑thirds majority in both Houses of Parliament.
UPSC Relevance
The episode touches upon several core areas of the UPSC syllabus:
- Parliamentary Structure and Functioning (GS2): Understanding the composition, powers, and amendment procedures of the Constitution.
- Electoral Reforms (GS2): The role of delimitation in maintaining the principle of ‘one person, one vote’.
- Federalism and State Representation (GS2): How changes in Lok Sabha size affect the balance of power among states and Union Territories.
- Constitutional Law (GS2): The procedural requirement of a two‑thirds majority and the political dynamics of achieving it.
Way Forward
Given the political sensitivity, the government may consider alternative routes:
- Building a broader consensus across parties to secure the required majority for any future amendment.
- Exploring a phased increase in seats rather than a single large jump, to mitigate opposition.
- Initiating a comprehensive review of the delimitation mechanism, possibly linking it to the upcoming 2026 Census.
- Engaging civil society and experts to assess the impact of a larger Lok Sabha on legislative efficiency and representation.
Until a consensus is reached, the status quo of 543 seats and the existing delimitation framework will remain in force.