Article 81 of Constitution of India – Composition of the House of the People
Article 81 of Constitution of India deals with Composition of the House of the People
Original Text of Article 81 of Constitution of India
(1) Subject to the provisions of article 331, the House of the People shall consist of—
(a) not more than 6[five hundred and thirty members] chosen by direct election from territorial constituencies in the States, and
(b) not more than [twenty members] to represent the Union territories, chosen in such manner as Parliament may by law provide.
(2) For the purposes of sub-clause (a) of clause (1),—
(a) there shall be allotted to each State a number of seats in the House of the People in such manner that the ratio between that number and the population of the State is, so far as practicable, the same for all States; and
(b) each State shall be divided into territorial constituencies in such manner that the ratio between the population of each constituency and the number of seats allotted to it is, so far as practicable, the same throughout the State:
[Provided that the provisions of sub-clause (a) of this clause shall not be applicable for the purpose of allotment of seats in the House of the People to any State so long as the population of that State does not exceed six millions.]
In this article, the expression “population” means the population as ascertained at the last preceding census of which the relevant figures have been published.
[Provided that the reference in this clause to the last preceding census of which the relevant figures have been published shall, until the relevant figures for the first census taken after the year [2026] have been published, [be construed,—
(i) for the purposes of sub-clause (a) of clause (2) and the proviso to that clause, as a reference to the 1971 census; and
(ii) for the purposes of sub-clause (b) of clause (2) as a reference to the 4[2001] census.]]
Questions related to Article 81 of Constitution of India
Article 81 defines the composition of the Lok Sabha, the Lower House of Parliament. It lays down the maximum number of members and their distribution among states, ensuring fair representation under the Constitution of India.
The Lok Sabha can have a maximum of 552 members: up to 530 from the states, 20 from Union Territories, and 2 nominated members (from the Anglo-Indian community, though this provision was later removed), as stated in the Articles of Indian Constitution.
Representation is based on the population of each state, ensuring proportional representation. The goal is to maintain equal value for every vote, a principle often discussed in cases available on Indian Kanoon.
Yes, Article 81 has undergone several amendments to reflect population changes and evolving electoral needs. The 42nd and 84th Amendments are especially significant in this context within the Indian Constitution.
You can explore Indian Kanoon to find constitutional debates, case laws, and legal interpretations involving the structure, delimitation, and proportionality principles outlined in Article 81 of the Constitution of India.
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