Context: women reservation delimitation issue
The Union government has introduced the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026 along with a Delimitation Bill to implement the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, 2023 (106th Constitutional Amendment), linking 33% women’s reservation with delimitation after Census.
Key Information
Core Concern
• Women’s reservation is linked with delimitation, which may change seat distribution among States and affect federal balance.
Census Delay + Removal of Safeguard (Integrated)
• 2021 Census delayed → now 2026–27 → allows earlier delimitation.
• Earlier protection:
• 42nd Amendment (1976) → froze seat distribution (1971 population)
• 84th Amendment (2001) → extended this freeze
Now:
• 131st Amendment removes this safeguard (Articles 82 & 170)
• Result:
• Seats depend more on current population → benefits high-population States.
Major Constitutional Changes
• Articles amended: 55, 81, 82, 170, 330, 332, 334A
• Lok Sabha seats increased:
• States: 530 → 815
• Union Territories: 20 → 35
• Total: 550 → 850
Criticism
• States that controlled population may lose representation
• Weakens federal balance
• Women’s reservation can be implemented without delimitation (rotation method)
