The Indian government is preparing to establish a new Delimitation Commission to redraw the country's electoral constituencies and increase the number of Lok Sabha and state assembly seats based on the 2011 census.
The delimitation exercise is expected to significantly expand the strength of Parliament and state assemblies, with the Lok Sabha ceiling raised by 55% to 850 from the current 550.
For the first time, one-third reservation for women in Parliament and state assemblies will be operationalized, as per the 2023-approved plan.
The new framework will allot women's reserved seats by rotation, and seats reserved for women within SC/ST categories will rotate within those constituencies.
If passed by a simple majority in both Houses of Parliament, the legislation will pave the way for India's fifth delimitation exercise.
