Delimitation Committee to Be Formed in June as Lok Sabha Seat Count Likely to Cross 700

New DelhiMar, 28: The nationwide Census exercise is set to begin formally from next month, though there is no certainty about when it will be completed. Without waiting for the final Census report, the Central Government has reportedly begun preparations for the proposed “One Nation, One Election” plan scheduled for 2029.
As part of the exercise, the Centre is preparing to increase the number of Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assembly seats by nearly 50 percent based on the 2011 seat structure. A blueprint has already been drafted. The process of delimitation (redrawing of constituencies) is expected to begin from June.
For this purpose, the government plans to amend the Constitution and form a Delimitation Commission. According to reliable sources, amendments to the Delimitation Commission Act may be introduced in the current session of Parliament. Similarly, amendments to the Women’s Reservation Act—set to be implemented from 2029—are also likely to be brought forward.
33% Reservation for Women
Under the proposal:
33 percent of seats in both the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies will be reserved for women.
The reservation will not be linked to the Census process.
Within the reserved categories (SC/ST seats), 33 percent will be reserved for women belonging to those categories.
Seats reserved for women in different states will reportedly be decided through a lottery system.
The proposed 50 percent increase in seats will be applied uniformly across the country. This is expected to address concerns of southern states about potential seat reductions due to population changes. In some states, seat numbers may vary by around 10 percent depending on local factors.
Odisha’s Likely Seat Increase
If implemented:
Odisha’s Assembly seats may increase from 147 to between 210 and 221.
Parliamentary (Lok Sabha) constituencies in Odisha may rise from 21 to around 30–31.
At least 70 Assembly seats and 10 Lok Sabha seats in Odisha could be reserved for women.
Once the constitutional amendments are passed in Parliament, the Delimitation Commission is expected to be formed in June, and the process of redrawing Lok Sabha and Assembly constituencies will begin.