The delimitation will be carried out on a pro-rata basis using the 2011 Census as the base. The number of seats in both the Lok Sabha and state assemblies will be increased by 50%, preserving the existing state-wise share in the Lok Sabha.
Additionally, the government is planning to introduce a bill to make a constitutional amendment in the Women Reservation Act, Narishakti Vandan Adhiniyam, passed in 2023. Earlier, women’s reservation was contingent upon delimitation and a fresh census after the Act’s passage. In the proposed amendment, the base year will be shifted to the 2011 Census.
With this change, the reservation for women will be implemented on the revised strength of the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, with 33% of seats reserved. Accordingly, around 273 out of around 816 Lok Sabha seats will be reserved for women. So effectively increased seats would be the same as the seats reserved for women in Lok Sabha and state assemblies.
Reservation for SC and ST categories will also increase, with SC seats in the Lok Sabha rising from 84 to 136, and ST seats from 47 to 70. The women’s quota will be applied vertically, meaning that one-third of the seats within the SC and ST categories will also be reserved for women. Of the 136 SC reserved seats and of 70 ST reserved seats, 33% will be reserved for women.
Bills are expected to be placed before the Cabinet for approval before being introduced in Parliament. The seats for women will be reserved by selection on lottery and will be valid for 15 years after which it will be changed.
The new provisions are likely to come into effect from the 2029 general elections.On Monday, Union home minister Amit Shah held discussions with several non-Congress Opposition parties to build a broader consensus on the proposed legislation. Leaders present included Samajwadi Party’s Dimple Yadav, NCP (SP)’s Supriya Sule, Shiv Sena (UBT)’s Sanjay Raut, AIMIM’s Asaduddin Owaisi, BJD’s Sasmit Patra and YSR Congress’ Midhun Reddy, among others.
Later in the evening, a meeting of floor leaders from both Houses of NDA allies was held in the presence of Shah to discuss the strategy.
Several southern states, including NDA ally TDP, had earlier raised concerns about a potential loss of seats under delimitation based on a new census. TDP leader and Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu had earlier expressed apprehension that northern states might gain more seats due to higher population growth, penalising southern states for successful population control.
But with the current formulation delinking delimitation exercise from upcoming census, TDP has thrown its weight behind the move. TDP MP and Lok Sabha floor leader Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayulu told ET, “The home minister has briefed us about the details. Our concern was that southern states stand to lose with delimitation being linked to population. As long as there is a proportionate increase of seats, we are happy.”
YSRCP MP Midhun Reddy said, “We are in support of immediate implementation of women’s reservation. But we will discuss both the bills within the party.”
DMK was opposed to the delimitation exercise citing loss of seats due to population control. “We will discuss it within the party and with our allies in the state and accordingly will convey our opinion on the delimitation and women reservation proposed by the government,” DMK leader Tiruchi Siva told ET.
