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Parliament Bills Propose Lok Sabha Seats Raised to 850, End 1971 Census Freeze to Operationalise Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam 2023

PolityCORE
Target:UPSC GS-IIMPSCSSC GATeachingPrelims HighMains HighStatic GK Link
16 Apr 2026
~2 min
Source: The Hindu
Key Data:Lok Sabha seats 850Current seats 543Census year 1971Census year 2011
Bodies:ParliamentDelimitation Commission
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What This Article Covers

1.Two Bills introduced in Parliament aim to raise the Lok Sabha ceiling from 543 to 850 seats (815 from States, 35 from UTs).

2.They propose to replace the constitutional freeze that pegged seat allocation to the 1971 Census with a formula allowing Parliament to choose the census basis by ordinary law.

3.A Delimitation Commission would be constituted to use the latest published census (2011) to redraw boundaries, with the stated purpose of operationalising women's reservation under the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam 2023.

The Big Picture
Prelims · HighMains · High

Two Bills introduced in Parliament seek a major constitutional and electoral overhaul by increasing Lok Sabha seats and ending a five-decade-old freeze on seat allocation linked to the 1971 census. This structural reform is crucial for exam aspirants as it directly impacts India's representative democracy and is a key step to implementing the Women's Reservation Act.

Exam Lens

Quick Exam Facts From News

Proposed Lok Sabha Seats850 total (815 States + 35 UTs)
Current Lok Sabha Seats543
Census Year of Current Freeze1971
Census for Proposed Delimitation2011
Women's Reservation ActNari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam 2023

1-Minute Revision

  • ›Proposed Lok Sabha Seats: 850 total (815 States + 35 UTs)
  • ›Current Lok Sabha Seats: 543
  • ›Target this Data: Lok Sabha seats proposed: 850 (815 States + 35 UTs).
  • ›Target this Nodal Body: Delimitation Commission.
  • ›Target this Legal Point: Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam 2023 (Women's Reservation Act).

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Q1Static LinkageEasy

As per the Indian Constitution, which body is responsible for the delimitation of parliamentary and assembly constituencies?

Q2Statement-basedHard

Consider the following statements regarding the Bills introduced in Parliament:

1. They propose to increase the total strength of the Lok Sabha to 850 seats.

2. They seek to replace the constitutional freeze on seat allocation with a provision allowing Parliament to decide the census basis through an ordinary law.

3. The stated purpose of these Bills is to immediately implement 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Q3Data-centricMedium

According to the news article, what is the proposed new ceiling for the total number of Lok Sabha seats?

Q4Application/ImpactMedium

What is the primary constitutional rationale cited in the article for introducing the Bills related to delimitation and seat increase?

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