Central Idea

• The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Sixth Amendment) Bill, 2023, also known as the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, has successfully passed in the Lok Sabha.
• This bill aims to provide 33% reservation for women in both the Lok Sabha and state Assemblies, marking a significant milestone in Indian politics.

What is Delimitation?

• Objective: Delimitation aims to redraw constituency boundaries to maintain equal population representation in Assembly and Lok Sabha seats.
• Changing Constituencies: Delimitation may result in the alteration of constituency limits and, in some cases, the number of seats in a state.

Delimitation Process and Commission

• Independent Delimitation Commission: Delimitation is carried out by an independent Delimitation Commission (DC) constituted by the Union government.
• Terms of Reference: The DC determines the number and boundaries of constituencies, ensuring population equality and identifying reserved seats for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
• Implementation: The draft proposals are published for public feedback, followed by public sittings to consider objections and suggestions. The final order is published in official gazettes.

Historical Context of Delimitation

• Early Delimitation Exercises: The first delimitation exercise in 1950-51 was conducted by the President. Subsequently, the responsibility was shifted to independent Delimitation Commissions.
• Frequency of Delimitation: Delimitation has been carried out four times, in 1952, 1963, 1973, and 2002, based on the Acts enacted in respective years.

Postponement of Delimitation until 2026

• Frozen Seats: Delimitation was postponed after the 1981 and 1991 Censuses, freezing the number of seats in Lok Sabha and Assemblies.
• Justification for Postponement: An amendment further delayed delimitation until 2026, with the rationale that uniform population growth would be achieved throughout the country by that time.
• The Last Delimitation: The most recent delimitation exercise, based on the 2001 Census, focused on adjusting boundaries of existing seats and reworking the number of reserved seats.

Reservation Contingent on Delimitation

• Impending Change: Despite the Lok Sabha’s approval, the implementation of the 33% women’s reservation is not immediate. It hinges on two key processes: a delimitation exercise and a Census.
• Delimitation Explained: Delimitation involves redrawing Parliamentary and Assembly constituency boundaries to ensure equitable representation based on the latest population data.
• 2021 Census Impact: The 2021 Census, once conducted, will serve as the basis for the delimitation exercise, resulting in an increase in the number of constituencies. Of these, 33% will be reserved for women in future elections.

Delimitation: Why It’s Necessary

• Equitable Representation: Delimitation is essential to ensure that every citizen’s vote carries equal weight, aligning the number of constituencies with population changes.
• Preventing Gerrymandering: It also safeguards against gerrymandering, the manipulation of seat boundaries to favor one political party.
• Constitutional Mandate: The Constitution mandates delimitation after each Census to reallocate seats in Lok Sabha and state Assemblies.

Political Complexity of Delimitation

• Population Dynamics: Delimitation has significant political implications, particularly regarding the redistribution of seats among states.
• Concerns of States: Population control efforts influenced seat allocation, creating concerns for states with varying levels of population control.
• Freeze on Seat Numbers: Political concerns led to a freeze on the number of seats in Parliament and Assemblies until 2026, extending family planning efforts.

Gender vs. Regional Identities

• Dual Shifts: The upcoming delimitation will bring two significant shifts: from southern to northern and eastern states and from male to female representation.
• Women’s Empowerment: While concerns over diminishing state influence may arise, national consensus on women’s empowerment prevails.
• Population Skew: Northern states may gain more seats, while southern states could lose representation due to varying population growth rates.
• Impact on OBC Politics: Autonomous OBC politics in Hindi heartland states could weaken as the focus shifts to gender representation.
• BJP’s Strategy: The BJP seeks to strengthen its social base by championing women’s empowerment alongside its Hindutva and pan-national identity politics.
• Complex Landscape: Gender representation introduces an additional layer to the uni-dimensional politics of caste and regional identities, reshaping the political landscape.

Conclusion

• The interplay between delimitation, gender reservation, and regional caste identities poses complex challenges in Indian politics.
• Striking a balance between these dynamics will shape the future of representation and governance in the country.

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