The Centre is working on multiple proposals to increase the number of Lok Sabha seats by around 50 per cent for all states as part of its efforts to implement the women’s reservation law before the 2029 general elections while addressing concerns raised by southern states over delimitation.
According to sources, the government is preparing a revised Constitution Amendment Bill after an earlier version failed to secure the required two-thirds majority in the Lok Sabha on April 17.
One of the key proposals under consideration is to increase Lok Sabha seats from the current 543 to around 850 while retaining the existing inter-state seat ratio based on the 1971 Census. The move is aimed at ensuring that states with lower population growth do not lose political representation after the delimitation exercise.
However, sources said no final decision has been taken, and several formulations are still under examination.
The proposed delimitation exercise is expected to be carried out using the 2011 Census, as the results of the ongoing Census are yet to be published.
The revised Bill is expected to amend the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, enabling the implementation of 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies from the 2029 elections instead of waiting until after the next delimitation cycle.
The proposal also includes increasing the number of seats in state legislatures and Union Territory assemblies to accommodate women’s reservation. Reserved seats for women would be allocated on a rotational basis across constituencies.
Sources said the government will introduce the Bill in Parliament only after ensuring it has adequate support to secure the required constitutional majority.
— Agencies
