Delimitation and Federal Concerns

The principle of democratic representation in India, as provided under Article 81, mandates that seats in the Lok Sabha be allocated to States in proportion to their population. This system worked effectively in earlier decades when population differences among States were relatively small. However, with India becoming the world’s most populous country, and with growing demographic disparities across regions, strict adherence to population-based representation has raised concerns regarding fairness and federal balance. The upcoming Census 2026 and the subsequent delimitation exercise offer a crucial opportunity to revisit this framework.

Changing Demographic Realities

The 84th Constitutional Amendment Act extended the freeze on the number of parliamentary seats to encourage States to adopt population control measures. Over time, most States have made progress toward achieving the replacement-level fertility rate (TFR of 2.1). However, disparities still persist, as some States continue to have higher fertility rates than others.

This has created a paradox in representation. States that successfully controlled population growth now experience slower population increases, while others continue to grow rapidly. If delimitation is conducted strictly on the basis of population, States with higher fertility rates will gain more seats, whereas those that performed better in population control may lose representation

The Case for Demographic Performance (DemPer)

To address this imbalance, a more equitable approach involves incorporating Demographic Performance (DemPer) into seat allocation. This concept is inspired by the approach used by the Finance Commission, which considers both population size and performance indicators while distributing resources.

Under this model, the existing 543 Lok Sabha seats would remain unchanged, while additional seats would be allocated based on a combination of population and DemPer. Demographic performance would be assessed through two components: early achievement of replacement fertility (10% weightage) and the rate of fertility decline between 2005 and 2021 (90% weightage).

This approach ensures that all States benefit from increased representation, while more populous States receive larger absolute gains. At the same time, it protects the proportional share of States that have effectively managed population growth.

Federalism and Democratic Equity

India’s democratic framework is not solely about numerical equality; it also seeks to ensure fair representation for all States within a federal structure. A purely population-based system could undermine this balance and generate regional dissatisfaction. By incorporating demographic performance, the delimitation process can align representation with good governance practices and reinforce incentives for sustainable population policies.

Importantly, this issue is not limited to a simple regional divide, as several States across different regions have made significant progress in population stabilisation.

Determining the Size of the Lok Sabha

Another critical issue is the size of the Lok Sabha. In 1971, each Member of Parliament represented approximately 10–11 lakh people, but with India’s population now exceeding 1.4 billion, the current number of seats is insufficient for effective representation. Expanding the Lok Sabha is therefore necessary.

However, an excessively large legislature could reduce the quality of debates and decision-making. A proposed cap of around 700 seats offers a practical balance between adequate representation and institutional efficiency. The key highlight is that expansion must be carefully calibrated to preserve both representation and parliamentary effectiveness.

Conclusion

The upcoming delimitation exercise represents a critical juncture for Indian democracy. While population-based representation remains essential, it must be complemented by measures that ensure fairness across States. Incorporating Demographic Performance (DemPer) into seat allocation provides a balanced and forward-looking solution.