Delimitation Reforms, 2026 CONTEXT:The Union government has introduced three major Bills: the Constitution (One Hundred and Thirty-First Amendment) Bill, 2026, the Delimitation Bill, 2026, and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026, to enable fresh delimitation based on the latest available Census, expand the Lok Sabha, and operationalise 33% women’s reservation in legislatures. About Delimitation About: Delimitation is the process of redrawing or fixing the boundaries of Lok Sabha and State Assembly constituencies so that each constituency has nearly equal population representation. Objective: To uphold the democratic principle of "one person, one vote, one value" by ensuring balanced representation as population changes. Constitutional Mandate: Article 82: Requires Parliament to enact a Delimitation Act after every Census for readjustment of Lok Sabha seats and constituencies. Article 170: Provides for similar readjustment in State Legislative Assemblies. Delimitation Commission: An independent statutory body appointed by the Central Government. Comprises: Chairperson (serving/retired Supreme Court Judge) Chief Election Commissioner (or nominee) State Election Commissioners of concerned States Its orders have the force of law, cannot be altered by Parliament or State Legislatures, and are generally final. Freeze on Delimitation: 42nd Amendment Act, 1976: Froze Lok Sabha seat allocation based on the 1971 Census to protect states that successfully controlled population growth. 84th Amendment Act, 2001: Extended the freeze until the first Census after 2026. The 2002 Delimitation Commission revised only constituency boundaries using the 2001 Census, while inter-state seat allocation continued on the 1971 basis. Judicial Review: In Kishorchandra Chhanganlal Rathod Case (2024), the Supreme Court ruled that Delimitation Commission orders can be reviewed only if they are manifestly arbitrary or violate constitutional principles. About The Delimitation Bill, 2026 The Bill operationalises the constitutional changes proposed under the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026 by providing the framework for fresh delimitation. New Delimitation Commission: Replaces the Delimitation Act, 2002. Authorises the Central Government…
