Constitution Amendment Bill Proposes Fresh Delimitation of State Assemblies

Key Points

• Bill proposes restarting delimitation process for state assemblies
• Aims to remove freeze on seat readjustment since 1976
• Could redistribute seats based on current population data

Full Details

The Constitution (One Hundred and Thirty-First Amendment) Bill, 2026, has been introduced in Parliament, proposing significant changes to the composition of State Legislative Assemblies. The bill aims to restart the delimitation process and remove the constitutional freeze that has been in place since 1976, which prevented readjustment of seats based on population changes. This move could lead to a redistribution of parliamentary and assembly seats among states, reflecting current demographic realities. The last delimitation exercise was completed in 2008, but the freeze on seat allocation was extended until 2026. The proposed changes could have major political implications, potentially altering the balance of power in various states.