What are the issues around delimitation?

(Source – The Hindu, International Edition – Page No. – 10)

Why is Delimitation Being Debated?

• India’s population has grown unevenly in the past five decades.
• Some States, like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan, have seen higher population growth compared to southern States like Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh.
• Two key scenarios are being considered for delimitation:
  • Redistributing the existing 543 seats among the States.
  • Increasing the number of seats to 848 in proportion to population growth.
• There is uncertainty about whether the allocation will be based on the current share of seats or projected population.

Concerns About Delimitation

• If seats are allocated based on population, southern and smaller northern States may lose their proportional representation.
• This could impact the federal structure and reduce the political significance of States that controlled their population.
• Currently, southern States hold 24% of Lok Sabha seats, which could decline by 5% under the proposed changes.

Possible Solutions

• Fix the number of Lok Sabha seats at 543 to maintain federal balance and ensure fair representation for all States.
• Increase the number of MLAs in each State based on population growth to provide adequate local representation.
• Follow the U.S. model, where the House of Representatives has remained fixed at 435 despite a fourfold population increase.
• Prevent regional disparities by avoiding disproportionate representation shifts that could weaken smaller States.
• Ensure long-term stability by considering that India’s population is expected to peak at 165-170 crore in the next three decades before declining.

Conclusion

• Delimitation must balance democratic representation and federal integrity.
• Fixing Lok Sabha seats at 543 while adjusting State assemblies ensures fairness, prevents regional disparities, and upholds India’s diverse and evolving political landscape.