FAIR SEAT ALLOCATION - POLITY
NEWS: As India approaches 2026, the freeze on Lok Sabha seat redistribution (based on population) — enforced since 1971 — is set to end. This has triggered intense debate, especially in southern states, over fears of losing political representation in Parliament.
WHAT’S IN THE NEWS?
Understanding the Seat Freeze Since 1971
• Democracy Principle:
Democracy is based on the idea of "rule by the people," which implies equal value for each vote under the principle of one citizen – one vote – one value.
• Lok Sabha Seat Allocation (Historical):
The number of seats in the Lok Sabha was adjusted based on census data:
• 1951 Census → 494 seats
• 1961 Census → 522 seats
• 1971 Census → 543 seats
These allocations corresponded with population increases:
• 1951 → 36.1 crore
• 1961 → 43.9 crore
• 1971 → 54.8 crore
• Constitutional Provision for Revision:
Articles 81 and 82 of the Indian Constitution mandate that the number of seats in the Lok Sabha must be revised after every decennial Census.
• Freeze on Seat Allocation (Post-1971):
• The 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act (1976) froze the allocation of Lok Sabha seats based on the 1971 Census until 2000.
• This freeze was extended by the 84th Constitutional Amendment Act (2001) till the year 2026.
• Objective Behind the Freeze:
The freeze was intended to promote population control, ensuring that states which successfully implemented family planning policies (mainly southern states) were not penalized with reduced representation.
Uneven Population Growth Since 1971
• Demographic Imbalance:
Population growth has been uneven across states since 1971, leading to significant demographic divergence.
• Rapid Growth in Northern States:
States like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan have seen substantial increases in population.
• Stabilized Growth in Southern States:
States like Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka managed to effectively stabilize their population through active family planning.
• Potential Consequence (Post-2026):
If the freeze is lifted in 2026 and seat allocation is recalculated based on new population data, northern states will gain a large number of additional seats, while southern states may see no increase or even a relative decrease in their share.
Risks and Challenges Post-Freeze
• Risk of Northern Domination:
Redrawing based solely on population might lead to over-representation of northern states, skewing national political power in their favor.
• Southern Under-Representation:
States that controlled population could become under-represented, despite policy success, violating the equity of federal representation.
• Regional Imbalance:
This could lead to alienation of southern and smaller states, creating political tensions and centre-state mistrust.
Delimitation vs Readjustment: Two Key Proposals
• Delimitation:
• Involves redrawing the boundaries of constituencies within a state, without altering the total number of seats assigned to that state.
• Purpose: To ensure equal number of voters per constituency.
• Does not affect inter-state balance but may affect intra-state political dynamics.
• Readjustment:
• Involves reallocating the number of Lok Sabha seats to each state based on updated population data (as per Article 82).
• Purpose: To reflect the true demographic strength of each state in Parliament.
• Directly affects inter-state representation and is more politically sensitive.
Constitutional and Institutional Aspects
• Articles 82 and 170:
These mandate that Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assembly seats must be readjusted after every Census.
• Delimitation Commission:
• A powerful body set up by an Act of Parliament.
• Responsible for the process of delimiting constituencies and assigning SC/ST reserved seats.
• Past commissions were formed after the 1951, 1961, and 1971 Censuses.
Federalism Concerns
• Violation of Federal Balance:
If seats are adjusted purely on population, it may dilute the voice of less populous or population-controlled states.
• Disproportionate Political Power:
Large and high-growth states may monopolize decision-making at the national level, undermining cooperative federalism.
• Centre-State Tensions:
Could trigger regional discontent, particularly from states that feel politically marginalized despite better governance on population fronts.
Way Forward: Balancing Democracy and Federalism
• Key Challenge:
Striking a balance between:
• Democratic representation based on population size, and
• Federal equality giving all states fair voice irrespective of size.
• Need for a Balanced Approach:
India must adopt a carefully calibrated model that:
• Reflects demographic changes
• Rewards states that performed well in population control
• Ensures fair and inclusive political representation for all regions
• Potential Solutions:
Options such as weighted voting, upper house empowerment, or capped representation formulae may be explored to avoid unfair domination by any region.
Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/a-case-for-a-fair-seat-allocation/article69422790.ece