Page 35 - NIS ENGLISH 1-15 May, 2026

New India and
Women-led
Leadership
What were the primary reasons and Cover Story
Q rationale behind the proposal to increase Would the new delimitation proposal have
the number of Lok Sabha seats to 850? Q disadvantaged South Indian or smaller states?
This proposal was predicated on the No, there would have been a uniform 50
A principle of expanding the number of seats A percent increase in the number of seats for all
in proportion to the population. A uniform states. There would have been no reduction in
increase of 50 percent would have ensured the representation of the Southern states. As
Answers to All Your Questions that the proportional representation of illustrated in the table below, the Southern states

all states and Union Territories remained currently hold 23.76 percent of the seats in the
consistent with the current status quo. Lok Sabha. This share would have increased to
Based on this principle, the number of approximately 23.87 percent. For instance, the
Lok Sabha seats would have risen from the number of seats allocated to Tamil Nadu would
current figure of 543 to approximately 815. also have increased in this same proportion,
Consequently, the maximum ceiling for the ensuring that the state suffered no disadvantage.
number of seats in the Lok Sabha was Karnataka
being raised from 550 to 850. 28 ( 5.15%)

Andhra Pradesh
Seat Strength 25 ( 4.60%)
(Total 543) Telangana

Percentage to 17 ( 3.13%)
Current 543
Tamil Nadu

Would the new delimitation proposal have Others 39 ( 7.18%)
Q disadvantaged states that have controlled
their population growth? Kerala
20 ( 3.68%)
No, the new delimitation proposal would 23.76
A not have caused any disadvantage to states 129 (Approx. 24%) Total
that have successfully controlled their
population growth. There was a provision for Karnataka
a proportional increase (50%) in the number 42 ( 5.14%)
of seats for all states; consequently, instead
of seeing a decline in their percentage of Andhra Pradesh
representation, each state’s share would have Seat Strength 38 ( 4.65%)
either remained constant or increased slightly. After an Increase Telangana
of Approx 50%
Would the new delimitation proposal have Percentage 26 ( 3.18%)
Q harmed the representation and rights of Proposed Tamil Nadu
of the Scheduled Castes (SC) and the 815
Scheduled Tribes (ST)? 59 ( 7.23%)
Others Kerala
Our Constitution provides for periodic
A delimitation, and it is through this very 30 ( 3.67%)
process that seats are reallocated and 23.87
increased for various sections of society, 195 (Approx. 24%) Total
including the Scheduled Castes and
Scheduled Tribes. Had these three bills
been passed, the number of reserved seats Proposed
in a House comprising approximately 850
Seat 543
members would have risen from 131 to Current 815 Seat
around 205; this would have resulted in an Strength
enhancement—rather than any diminution— Strength 50% Increase
of the representation and rights of Scheduled
Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

May 01-15, 2026 || NEW INDIA SAMACHAR 33