Significance of Delimitation in India Introduction 

• The recent dispute between the Centre and Tamil Nadu regarding delimitation has reignited one of the most vital debates in democracy — the question of fair political representation. 
• The last delimitation took place in 1975, and thereafter, Indira Gandhi’s government imposed a freeze until 2000. 
• A year later, Parliament again froze the number of members in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, extending the freeze until 2026.
•  This delayed process has led to growing concerns regarding democracy, demography, and federalism in India. 
• With delimitation set to take place after 2026, crucial issues related to equitable representation, regional imbalances, and fair governance need immediate attention.

What is Delimitation?

• Delimitation is the process of redrawing the boundaries of electoral constituencies to ensure fair representation based on changes in the population over time. 
• The main goal is to ensure that every voter’s voice is equally represented in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies. 
• The Delimitation Commission plays a pivotal role in this process by setting the boundaries for electoral constituencies.

What is Constitutional Validity of Delimitation in India? 

• The Delimitation Commission in India operates under the Delimitation Act of 2002, in line with Articles 82 and 170 of the Indian Constitution.
•  Article 82 mandates the reorganization of constituencies after every Census, while Article 170 prescribes the process for delimiting constituencies for State Legislative Assemblies.
•  These constitutional provisions ensure that population shifts are adequately reflected in the boundaries, facilitating democratic fairness and ensuring representation for all citizens.

What is the Importance of the Delimitation Exercise in India? 

• • The delimitation exercise holds profound importance in ensuring democratic fairness, political representation, and administrative efficiency. Below are some key aspects that highlight its significance:

• Socio-Economic Equity: Delimitation contributes significantly to socio-economic equity by improving representation for marginalized communities, including Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes. A prime example is the Jammu and Kashmir Delimitation Commission, which allocated additional seats to Jammu to address regional disparities in political representation, especially in areas with underrepresented populations.

• Strengthening Federalism: Delimitation is crucial for strengthening India’s federal structure, ensuring that all states are equitably represented in the Parliament and State Assemblies. The 42nd Amendment imposed a population freeze from 1976 until 2000 to prevent southern states, with slower population growth, from losing representation. This population freeze helped uphold the spirit of cooperative federalism, balancing national unity with regional autonomy. This ensures that no state, irrespective of its population growth, is unfairly disadvantaged in political representation.

• Enhancing Administrative Efficiency: Delimitation ensures that constituencies are aligned with demographic realities, improving the voter-to-representative ratio and facilitating better electoral management. The 2002 delimitation exercise in cities like Mumbai and Bengaluru led to improved electoral administration, smoother voting processes, and a more efficient governance system.

• Aligning Representation with Demographic Changes: Delimitation ensures that representation in electoral bodies reflects the changing demographic realities of a country. For instance, as seen in the UK Boundary Commission, the periodic review of constituency boundaries allows electoral systems to remain current and reflective of population shifts. India, too, benefits from regular delimitation exercises that adjust constituencies according to population changes.

• Political Representation and Electoral Fairness: Delimitation ensures that seats in the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies are fairly distributed based on population changes. This prevents malapportionment, where some constituencies may have disproportionately more or fewer voters than others. The 2002 Delimitation Commission improved the voter-to-MP ratio, especially in urban and rural areas, ensuring that each MP represents a roughly equal number of citizens. This prevents the overrepresentation of more populated areas and underrepresentation of others, making the democratic system fairer.

• Upholding Democracy by Reducing Gerrymandering: Delimitation is a key measure in curbing gerrymandering — the manipulation of electoral district boundaries for political gain. The Supreme Court of India, in Kuldip Nayar v. Union of India (2006), emphasized the importance of delimitation in ensuring electoral fairness and preventing political manipulation of constituencies. The periodic exercise of redrawing boundaries ensures that electoral contests are fair and free from bias.
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Problems Associated with the Delimitation Exercise

• Manipulation of Constituencies: There are concerns about the possibility of manipulating constituency boundaries for electoral gains. Allegations of bias in the Jammu and Kashmir delimitation process in 2022 have raised fears that political parties may attempt to influence the process for political advantage. This manipulation would undermine the fairness of the process.

• Delays and Political Resistance: The delimitation process often faces political resistance. Political parties may be reluctant to lose seats, especially in areas where they hold a strong position. The Justice Kuldip Singh-led Commission (2002) faced resistance from political parties unwilling to adjust their constituencies. Such resistance leads to delays in the delimitation process and hampers democratic functioning.

• • Economic Disparities: Southern states like Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka argue that economic success, including higher revenue generation through GST collections and per capita income, should be factored into the delimitation process to ensure they are not penalized for their economic prosperity and good governance. For instance:
    • Tamil Nadu contributes around ₹1.2 lakh crore to GST collections, which is significantly higher than many other states.
    • Per capita income in Kerala is ₹2,00,000, higher than many other states in the country, reflecting the state’s efficient governance and better socio-economic performance. However, under a population-based delimitation system, these southern states may end up with reduced political representation, which could be seen as unfair when compared to states with larger populations but lower economic performance. This raises concerns that economic performance should play a role in representation. 
  • Population vs. Development: States such as Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Andhra Pradesh argue that delimitation based solely on population size unfairly penalizes those states that have succeeded in family planning and economic development. For instance:
    • Tamil Nadu’s fertility rate stands at 1.6 (well below the national average), indicating effective family planning and population control. In contrast, Bihar’s fertility rate is 3.0, significantly higher, reflecting higher population growth in states that have faced challenges in managing population control.
    • Despite Tamil Nadu’s success in controlling population growth, the state may lose political representation under a population-based system because the state’s slower growth means it will not be entitled to the same number of Lok Sabha seats as Bihar, which has a higher population but lower socio-economic indicators.

• Risk to Federalism:  Delimitation based purely on population size could lead to political marginalization of states with lower growth rates. Southern states in particular may feel punished for their family planning success. This could increase the North-South divide and undermine cooperative federalism. Bihar, with a population of over 125 million, has been growing at a much faster rate compared to Tamil Nadu‘s 75 million population. Under the current delimitation model, Bihar would gain more political seats than Tamil Nadu despite the latter’s higher economic contributions and better governance indicators. The Sarkaria Commission (1983) warned against excessive centralization in this process. 

What Should Be the Way Forward?

• Implement Expert Recommendations:

• • • Sarkaria Commission (1983): Proposed a balanced approach to federalism and national unity.
    • Punchhi Commission (2010): Suggested equal weightage to population size and governance needs in the delimitation process.

• Ensure Transparency and Independent Oversight:

• • • The Election Commission must be empowered to ensure transparency and independence in the delimitation process. 
    • The Supreme Court in Kuldip Nayar v. Union of India (2006) and TN Seshan v. Union of India (1995) emphasized the importance of an independent delimitation body.

• Constitutional and Legislative Reforms: 

• • • Amend Articles 81 and 82 of the Indian Constitution to ensure balanced regional representation. Introduce proportional representation models, similar to Germany and Canada, to balance both population and economic performance in the representation process.

• Policy Suggestions for Balanced Representation: 

• • Weighted Representation Model: Combine population size, economic performance, and governance to determine the number of seats for each state.
  • Independent Delimitation Commission: Establish an independent body free from political interference.
  • Phased Implementation: Implement delimitation reforms gradually to prevent political instability.