Delimitation Commission to Redraw 543 Seats Using 2021 Census
The exercise could shift parliamentary representation toward faster-growing states, alarming the south.
The Union government has notified a Delimitation Commission to redraw all 543 Lok Sabha constituencies and the corresponding assembly seats before the next general election cycle. Led by a retired Chief Justice of India, it will include the Chief Election Commissioner and a nominated statistical authority.
Its baseline will be the 2021 Census, delayed by the pandemic and released in phases. It is the first such exercise since the long freeze on population-based seat allocation, and its arithmetic is politically charged.
Key Highlights
- All 543 Lok Sabha seats and matching assembly seats will be redrawn.
- The Commission is led by a retired Chief Justice of India.
- The 2021 Census is the baseline data set.
- Southern states fear a fall in their share of seats.
- Final orders are non-justiciable under Article 329 of the Constitution.
What Delimitation Is
Delimitation is the redrawing of electoral boundaries to reflect population changes, so that seats are broadly equal in size. Under Article 82, it follows each Census, but successive constitutional amendments froze the population-based allocation of Lok Sabha seats — initially with reference to the 1971 Census — to reassure states that curbed population growth.
That freeze was set to lift after the first Census taken after 2026, which is why this exercise carries such weight: it reopens the distribution of seats between states for the first time in decades.
Southern States Brace for Redistribution
Parties in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are deeply concerned. These states slowed population growth earlier than some northern states, so a purely population-proportionate formula is likely to reduce their relative share of seats.
The Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu and Kerala have written to the Prime Minister urging a formula that also weighs literacy, per capita income and social development, arguing that penalising successful family planning would set a perverse incentive.
The core tension
| Concern | Detail |
|---|---|
| Baseline | 2021 Census population |
| Southern states' worry | Lower population growth may cut their seat share |
| Proposed alternative | Weight development indicators alongside population |
| Legal status of orders | Non-justiciable under Article 329 |
The Northeast's Complexity
The northeastern states pose distinct challenges. Constituencies in Assam, Manipur and Nagaland include significant tribal and scheduled-area populations with protected status under the Fifth and Sixth Schedules. The Commission must reconcile updated demographics with these constitutional protections when redrawing reserved seats.
Process and Timeline
The Delimitation Act mandates public consultation. The Commission will issue draft orders for each state and union territory, invite written objections from the public and parties within a 60-day window, and hold public sittings in state capitals before finalising. Under Article 329, its final orders cannot be challenged in court.
The Commission is expected to report to the President within 18 months, with the redrawn map applied from the next general election. Analysts call it potentially the most consequential electoral-geography reset since independence — a shift that intersects with wider federal debates seen in the governors' powers case and the Unified Electoral Roll Bill.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is delimitation?
The redrawing of constituency boundaries after a Census so seats reflect current population.
Which Census will be used?
The 2021 Census, released in phases after a pandemic delay.
Why are southern states worried?
Their slower population growth could reduce their share of seats under a population-based formula.
Can the final orders be challenged in court?
No. Under Article 329, delimitation orders are non-justiciable.
When will the new map take effect?
After the Commission reports within about 18 months, from the next general election.
Sources
- Delimitation Act and Article 82 of the Constitution
- Government notification constituting the Commission
- Correspondence from state governments