The Indian Parliament’s Budget Session is expected to resume in the third week of April, contrary to earlier indications of a sine die adjournment on Thursday. Sources suggest that the government is preparing to introduce a significant amendment bill aimed at increasing the number of Lok Sabha seats from 543 to 816. This proposed adjustment includes reserving at least 273 seats specifically for women.

The agenda for the upcoming session may focus on amendments to the 2023 Nari Shakti Vandan Act and the introduction of a new Delimitation Commission Bill. These legislative initiatives will utilize the 2011 census data as the foundation for redefining electoral boundaries and redistributing seats among the states.

At present, the Lok Sabha consists of 543 seats. The proposed increase represents a 50 percent growth, with one-third of the new seats designated for female representatives. The Budget Session began on January 28 and briefly reconvened on March 9 before this current hiatus.

Opposition Concerns Over Delimitation

Members of the opposition have voiced apprehensions regarding the implications of the delimitation process, particularly for the southern states, which may face political dilution as northern counterparts potentially receive a larger share of the newly allocated seats. Congress MP Jairam Ramesh criticized the government’s approach, alleging that it aims to expedite the legislation without adequate consideration.

Ramesh stated that the government’s proposal to increase Lok Sabha seats by 50 percent could disadvantage southern states concerning political representation. Presently, Uttar Pradesh holds 80 seats while Tamil Nadu has 39. Should the legislative changes take effect, Uttar Pradesh’s representation could increase to 120 seats, but Tamil Nadu would only grow to a maximum of 59 seats. Likewise, Kerala’s representation may rise from 20 to 30 seats, while Bihar could see an increase from 40 to 60. In total, northern states might gain approximately 200 seats compared to a 66-seat gain for the southern states.

Women’s Reservation and Legislative Amendment

The government also intends to amend the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, also known as the Women’s Reservation Bill. This amendment focuses on separating women’s quotas from the redistricting process. The Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam was enacted in 2023 to reinforce women’s representation in governance.

A separate Delimitation Bill is slated for introduction, with both pieces of legislation requiring constitutional amendments to ensure women’s reservation is adequately addressed. Should these initiatives proceed as planned, the revised Lok Sabha is anticipated to surpass 800 seats in total.

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