Delimitation

Why in the News?

Southern states have expressed concerns that the population-based delimitation of Lok Sabha seats and the Finance Commission's funding allocations are unfair.   

About Delimitation

• Delimitation is the process of fixing the number of seats and boundaries of territorial constituencies in each State for the Lok Sabha and Legislative assemblies.
• Responsibility of delimitation is assigned to a high-power body known as Delimitation Commission (Boundary Commission).
• In India, such Delimitation Commissions have been constituted 4 times – in 1952, 1963, 1973, and 2002.
  • The Jammu and Kashmir Delimitation Commission, finalized in 2022, reorganized the UT of Jammu & Kashmir into 90 Assembly Constituencies (43 in Jammu and 47 in Kashmir) and 5 Parliamentary Constituencies under the provisions of the Delimitation Commission Act, 2002 and the Jammu & Kashmir Reorganization Act, 2019.
• Constitutional Provisions for Delimitation
  • Articles 82 and 170: Readjustment and division of each State into territorial constituencies (Parliamentary constituencies and Assembly constituencies) by such authority and in such manner as Parliament may, by law, determine.
  • Articles 330 and 332: Re-fixing number of seats reserved for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) in Lok Sabha and Legislative Assemblies of States.

• Orders of Delimitation Commissions have the force of law and cannot be challenged in court.
  • No modifications are permissible by the House of the People and the State Legislative Assembly.
  • It comes into effect on a date specified by the President of India.

Significance of Delimitation 

• Constitutional Mandate: Delimitation is mandated by Constitution under Article 82 and 170 for periodic realignment of representation with demographic realities.

• Political equality: Delimitation operationalizes the democratic principle of "one man, one vote, one value", by periodically readjusting constituencies so that each legislator represents roughly equal numbers of people.
• Preventing Gerrymandering: A transparent delimitation process reduces opportunities for manipulation of boundaries for political gain, and helps protect the integrity of elections.
• Federalism: It shapes the horizontal balance in the federal structure by determining the number of representatives from each state in the national and state legislatures.
• Historical adjustment: Delimitation has historically adjusted distribution of seats to ensure a balanced representation relative to population distribution in Parliament, State Assemblies, and local self-governing institutions.
• Effective Governance: Fairly drawn constituencies, aligned with population and demographic patterns, enable representatives to better understand and address constituent needs.

Issues associated with Delimitation in India

• Federal Imbalance: Delimitation process based only on population can benefit high-growth states (e.g. Uttar Pradesh, Bihar) while reducing representation for states that effectively controlled population growth (e.g. Southern states). 
  • This could weaken federal balance as national policies might be tailored to suit northern states' priorities, leading to political and regional tensions between states.
• Reserved Constituencies: Current system provides reservations for SCs and STs within Lok Sabha and State Assemblies. However, concerns persist that placement of these constituencies may not accurately reflect the actual demographic distribution of these communities.
• Lack of Public Participation: The current process lacks transparency and public participation, as decisions are made primarily by Delimitation Commission (composed of political appointees). This may lead to disconnect between people and the boundaries that are drawn.
• Representational imbalance: Delays in conducting census has led to distortion in representation compared to present population distributions, diluting effective political representation and access to elected representatives. 

Way Forward

• Seat Distribution: Use a total fertility rate (TFR)-adjusted formula for seat allocation, where population-based Lok Sabha seats are moderated by national and State-level TFR, ensuring fair representation without penalising States that achieved population stabilisation.
• Transparent process: Improving transparency and ensuring greater public engagement by involving stakeholders such as political parties, civil society groups, and the general public can enhance the legitimacy and fairness of the delimitation process.
• Periodic Review: Delimitation should be conducted regularly, ideally after each census (every ten years), to reflect demographic changes and maintain equal representation as population growth and shifts occur.
• Effective representation: Ensure socially cohesive and administratively practical constituencies by drawing boundaries that preserve cultural and community unity (especially for SCs and STs), while ensuring accessibility, effective representative–voter interaction, and minimal disruption to maintain electoral stability.
• Fund allocation: Finance Commissions (FCs) use multiple criteria to allocate funds, i.e.,
  • Income Distance: States with lower income receive higher transfers.
  • Population Size: Reflects the expenditure needs of States. FCs has used either 2011 Census population to reflect current needs or the 1971 population to reward population control efforts.
  • Demographic Performance: Rewards successful reduction in fertility rates.

Conclusion

Going forward, India must evolve a delimitation and fiscal federal framework that balances democratic representation with cooperative federalism, ensuring that states are not penalized for progressive demographic and social outcomes. A transparent, consultative, and evidence-based approach, drawing upon global best practices and India's constitutional values, can help reconcile population equity with regional fairness.