Context:

• The government has introduced three Bills on delimitation and women’s reservation, likely to be taken up in the extended Budget session.
• The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill proposes to increase the Lok Sabha strength from 550 to 850, with seats allocated to States based on their population share, using a Census specified by Parliament.
• It also states that one-third reservation for women will take effect after delimitation and remain valid for 15 years.
• The Delimitation Bill provides for the creation of a Delimitation Commission, similar to the 2002 body, and mandates the use of the latest published Census (likely 2011) for redrawing constituencies.
• The third Bill extends these provisions to Union Territories with legislatures—Delhi, Jammu & Kashmir, and Puducherry.
• This article highlights the far-reaching implications of increasing the size of the Lok Sabha through proposed delimitation reforms, examining their impact on federal balance, legislative functioning, and democratic representation in India.

Implications of the Proposed Delimitation Reforms

• Redistribution of Lok Sabha Seats Across States
  • The freeze on seat allocation until the post-2026 Census is proposed to be removed.
  • Seats will instead be based on the 2011 Census, altering the balance of representation.
  • Losers: Kerala and Tamil Nadu
  • Gainers: Rajasthan, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh
  • MPs from states like U.P. and Bihar could hold greater influence (around 25% of seats), reshaping national policymaking.
  • While this equalises the value of each vote, it raises concerns about regional imbalance.
• Greater Flexibility for Parliament in Delimitation
  • The amendment allows Parliament to decide:
    • When delimitation should occur?
    • Which Census data should be used?
  • This departs from the current constitutional mandate of delimitation after every Census.
  • Since decisions require only a simple majority, the ruling government can effectively control delimitation timing and basis.
• Weakening of the Rajya Sabha’s Relative Role
  • While the Lok Sabha’s size is proposed to increase, no change is planned for the Rajya Sabha.
  • This widens the power gap between the two Houses:
    • Current ratio: Lok Sabha has 2.2 times Rajya Sabha strength
    • Proposed ratio: Could rise to 3.3 times
  • In joint sittings, this gives the Lok Sabha a decisive advantage, enabling governments to pass Bills even with weaker support in the Rajya Sabha.
  • It also affects elections for President and Vice-President, where all MPs have equal votes.
• Expansion of the Council of Ministers
  • The Constitution caps the Council of Ministers at 15% of Lok Sabha strength.
  • With Lok Sabha expanding (e.g., to ~815 members), the Cabinet size could increase from 81 to around 122 ministers.
• Reduced Participation Opportunities for MPs
  • A larger Lok Sabha reduces individual MPs’ chances to:
    • Ask questions
    • Raise issues during Zero Hour
  • Since these opportunities are often allocated by lottery, increased membership lowers the probability of selection.
  • This problem is worsened by the fact that Parliament functions for less than 70 days annually.

Global Comparisons and Lessons for India

• Large Legislatures: International Practices
  • Countries like the United Kingdom have large legislatures; the House of Commons has 650 members.
  • To ensure effective participation, the U.K.:
    • Holds over 150 sittings annually
    • Uses a strong parliamentary committee system to enhance deliberation
• Role of Parliamentary Committees
• In the U.K., every Bill is examined by committees of both Houses.
• In contrast, in India less than 20% of Bills are referred to committees.
• This indicates weaker institutional support for detailed legislative scrutiny.
• Implications for State Legislatures
  • Though the Bills do not directly address State legislatures, the Delimitation Commission may apply similar logic.
  • If assembly sizes increase by around 50%:
    • Uttar Pradesh could exceed 600 seats
    • West Bengal and Maharashtra could approach 450 seats
  • This could lead to oversized legislatures, raising concerns about efficiency and manageability.

Need for Wider Deliberation

• The Bills are being introduced with minimal public discussion, despite their far-reaching implications.
• There is a strong case for referring these Bills to a Parliamentary Committee to:
  • Engage experts
  • Gather public input
  • Ensure informed decision-making

Conclusion

• Expanding the Lok Sabha may improve representation but risks weakening federal balance, reducing deliberative quality, and concentrating power unless supported by stronger institutions and broader consultation.