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{{Short description|Indian commission}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2019}}
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| headquarters =[[New Delhi]], India
| chief1_position = Chairperson
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| name = Delimitation Commission of India
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The '''Delimitation commission''' or '''Boundary commission''' of [[India]] is a commission established by the [[Government of India]] under the provisions of the Delimitation Commission Act. The main task of the commission is [[Boundary delimitation|redrawing the boundaries]] of the various [[Legislative assembly|assembly]] and [[Lok Sabha]] constituencies based on a recent [[Demographics of India|census]]. The representation from each [[States and union territories of India|State]] is not changed during this exercise. However, the number of [[Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes|SC]] and [[Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes|ST]] seats in a state are changed in accordance with the census. The present delimitation of constituencies has been done on the basis of [[2001 Census of India|2001 census]] under the provisions of Delimitation Act, 2002.

The Commission is a powerful and independent body whose orders cannot be challenged in any [[Judiciary of India|court of law]]. The orders are laid before the Lok Sabha and the respective State Legislative Assemblies. However, modifications are not permitted.

== History ==
Delimitation commissions have been set up four times in the past — 1952, 1962, 1972 and 2002 — under Delimitation Commission Acts of 1952, 1962, 1972 and 2002.

The union government had suspended delimitation in 1976 until after the [[2001 Census of India|2001 census]] so that states' [[family planning]] programs would not affect their political representation in the Lok Sabha. This had led to wide discrepancies in the size of constituencies, with the largest having over three million electors, and the smallest less than 50,000.
<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.eci.gov.in/ElectoralSystem/the_function.asp#howconstituency |title=Election Commission of India |access-date=2008-09-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081216063315/http://www.eci.gov.in/ElectoralSystem/the_function.asp#howconstituency |archive-date=2008-12-16 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

{|class="wikitable sortable"
!rowspan=2|No.
!rowspan=2|Year
!rowspan=2|Details
!rowspan=2|Based on
!colspan=2|Seats
|-
!Lok Sabha
!Assembly
|-
|1
|[[#Delimitation Commission of 1952|1952]]
| First delimitation exercise post-independence.
|[[1951 Census of India|1951 census]]
|494
|
|-
|2
|[[#Delimitation Commission of 1963|1963]]
| First delimitation exercise after the [[States Reorganisation Act, 1956|reorganisation of states]] in 1956. Only single-seat constituencies
|[[1961 Census of India|1961 census]]
|522
|3771
|-
|3
|[[#Delimitation Commission of 1973|1973]]
|
|[[1971 Census of India|1971 census]]
|543
|3997
|-
|4
|[[#Delimitation Commission of 2002|2002]]
| No changes in Lok Sabha seats or their apportionment between the various states
|[[2001 census of India|2001 census]]
|543
|4123
|-
|5
|2026
| Following the [[Eighty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution of India|84th amendment]] to the Constitution, in 2002, Delimitation is to be done in 2026 if not postponed.
The base year will be 2021 population. However the population control policy will be kept in center of this.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://indiacode.nic.in/coiweb/amend/amend84.htm |title=Eighty Fourth Amendment |publisher=Indiacode.nic.in |access-date=2011-11-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080121181551/http://indiacode.nic.in/coiweb/amend/amend84.htm |archive-date=21 January 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|[[2021 Census of India|2021 census]]
|
|
|-
|}

== Delimitation Commission of 1952 ==
{{expand section|date=December 2020}}
The Delimitation Commission of 1952 was created due to the ''Delimitation of Parliamentary and Assembly Constituencies Order, 1951''.<ref name="delimitation1951">{{cite web |url=https://eci.gov.in/files/file/3968-dpaco-1951/ |title=DPACO (1951) - Archive Delimitation Orders - Election Commission of India |access-date= December 9, 2020}}</ref> Justice N Chandrasekhara Aiyar, a retired justice of the Supreme Court, was its chairman in 1953.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://supremecourtofindia.nic.in/judges/bio/2_ncaiyar.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=8 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130508105824/http://supremecourtofindia.nic.in/judges/bio/2_ncaiyar.htm |title=Hon'ble Mr. Justice N. Chandrasekhara Aiyar}}</ref><ref>https://archive.org/details/in.gazette.e.1955.458/page/n3/mode/2up</ref>

== Delimitation Commission of 1963 ==
{{expand section|date=December 2020}}
''Delimitation of Parliamentary and Assembly Constituencies Order, 1961''<ref name="delimitation1961">{{cite web |url=https://eci.gov.in/files/file/3950-dpaco-1961/ |title=DPACO (1961) - Archive Delimitation Orders - Election Commission of India |access-date= December 9, 2020}}</ref>

== Delimitation Commission of 1973 ==
{{expand section|date=December 2020}}
The delimitaiton commission of 1973 was chaired by Justice J L Kapur, a retired justice of the Supreme Court.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.dailyexcelsior.com/delimitation-of-constituencies/ |title=Delimitation of constituencies |date=5 September 2019 |access-date= 10 May 2021 |quote=There after only two Delimitation commissions one in 1975 purportedly based on cencus[sic] of 1971 headed by J.L Kapur ...}}</ref> The commission recommended the increase of the seats in the Lok Sabha from 522 to 542 (later increased to 543 with the addition of one more seat for the new state of [[Sikkim]]).<ref name="delimitation1976">{{cite web |url=https://eci.gov.in/files/file/3939-dpaco-1976/ |title=DPACO (1976) - Archive Delimitation Orders - Election Commission of India |access-date= December 9, 2020}}</ref> It also recommended increase the total number of assembly seats across all states and Union Territories in the country from 3771 to 3997 (including 32 for Sikkim's legislative assembly).

== Delimitation Commission of 2002 ==
The most recent delimitation commission was set up on 12 July 2002 after the [[2001 Census of India|2001 census]] with Justice [[Kuldip Singh]], a retired Judge of the [[Supreme Court of India|Supreme Court]] as its Chairperson. The Commission has submitted its recommendations. In December 2007, the [[Supreme Court of India|Supreme Court]] on a petition issued notice to the central government asking reasons for non implementation. On '''4 January 2008''', the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA) decided to implement the order from the Delimitation Commission.<ref>[http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/PoliticsNation/Delimitation_process_now_gets_CCPA_nod/articleshow/2673204.cms Delimitation process now gets CCPA nod- Politics/Nation-News-The Economic Times]</ref> The recommendations of the Commission was approved by [[President of India|President]] [[Pratibha Patil]] on 19 February. This means that all future [[elections in India]] for states covered by the commission will be held under the newly formed constituencies.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080228022947/http://www.hindu.com/2008/02/20/stories/2008022058631200.htm Delimitation notification comes into effect - The Hindu 20 February 2008]</ref>

The present delimitation of parliamentary constituencies has been done on the basis of 2001 census figures under the provisions of Delimitation Act, 2002. The [[2008 Karnataka Legislative Assembly election|assembly election]] in [[Karnataka]], conducted in three phases in May 2008, was the first to use the new boundaries as drawn by the 2002 delimitation commission.<ref>[http://www.financialexpress.com/news/Delimitation-may-kick-off-with-Karnataka/257699/ Delimitation may kick off with Karnataka]</ref>

The tenure of the Delimitation Commission lasted upto 31 May 2008.<ref>[http://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/2008/E_706_2008_001.pdf Gazette of India notification]</ref> The delimitation orders issued by the Commission were given effect from 19 February 2008 for most states and union territories and 20 March 2008 for Tripura and Meghalaya, by a presidential order.<ref>[http://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/2008/E_250_2010_006.pdf Gazette of India notification]</ref> The orders regarding Jharkhand were nullified till 2026 by inserting section 10B into the Delimitation Act, 2002<ref>[https://indiacode.nic.in/show-data?actid=AC_CEN_3_20_00030_200233_1517807324510&sectionId=27994&sectionno=10B&orderno=12 Section 10B of Delimitation Act, 2002], as inserted by amendment of 2008, from ''India Code''</ref>

The delimitation of four north-eastern states was deferred due to security risks, by four separate presidential orders, all issued on 8 February 2008, for Assam,<ref>[http://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/2008/E_187_2010_007.pdf Gazette of India notification]</ref> Arunachal Pradesh,<ref>[http://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/2008/E_188_2010_006.pdf Gazette of India notification]</ref> Nagaland<ref>[http://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/2008/E_189_2010_008.pdf Gazette of India notification]</ref> and Manipur.<ref>[http://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/2008/E_190_2010_007.pdf Gazette of India notification]</ref> The order regarding Assam was rescinded on 28 February 2020.<ref>[http://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/2020/216453.pdf Gazette of India notification]</ref> Subsequently, the Government of India has reconstituted the Delimitation Commission for these four states as well as the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir on 6 March 2020,<ref>[http://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/2020/216583.pdf Gazette of India notification]</ref> under the chairpersonship of former Supreme Court judge [[Ranjana Desai|Ranjana Prakash Desai]]. In March 2021, the four north-eastern states were removed from the purview of the reconstituted Commission.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/2021/225608.pdf |title=Gazette notification dated 3 March 2021 |access-date=24 April 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref>

== Next Delimitation Commission ==
The present delimitation of parliamentary constituencies within states, has been done on the basis of the 2001 census, under the provisions of Delimitation Act, 2002. However, the [[Constitution of India]] was specifically amended ([[Eighty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution of India|84th amendment]]) in 2002, not to have interstate delimitation of constituencies till 2026.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://indiacode.nic.in/coiweb/amend/amend84.htm |title=Eighty Fourth Amendment |publisher=Indiacode.nic.in |access-date=2011-11-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080121181551/http://indiacode.nic.in/coiweb/amend/amend84.htm |archive-date=21 January 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Thus, the present constituencies carved out on the basis of the 2001 census shall continue to be in operation till 2026 and it will be done on the basis of population 2021.<ref>[https://eci.gov.in/faqs/elections/delimitation-of-constituencies/faqs-delimitation-of-constituencies-r6/ Election Commission of India - FAQs]</ref>

== Apportionment of Parliamentary and Assembly seats ==
Up until 1976, after every Indian Census the seats of [[Lok Sabha]], [[Rajya Sabha]] and [[State legislative assemblies of India]] were re-distributed respectively throughout the country so as to have equal population representation from every seat. The apportionment was done thrice as per 1951, 1961 and 1971 population census. However, during [[The Emergency (India)|The Emergency]], through [[Forty-second Amendment of the Constitution of India|Forty-second Amendment]] the government froze the total Parliamentary and Assembly seats in each state till 2001 Census.<ref name=rate>[http://www.frontline.in/static/html/fl1817/18170940.htm A Bill with limitations - Frontline 18 August 2001]</ref> This was done, mainly, due to wide discrepancies in family planning among the states. Thus, it gives time to states with higher fertility rates to implement family planning to bring the fertility rates down.<ref name=rate />

Even though the boundaries of constituencies were altered in 2001 to equate population among the parliamentary and assembly seats; the number of [[Lok Sabha]] seats that each state has and those of legislative assemblies has remained unaltered since 1971 census and may only be changed after 2026 as the constitution was again amended ([[List of amendments of the Constitution of India|84th amendment to Indian Constitution]]) in 2002 to continue the freeze on the total number of seats in each state till 2026.<ref>[http://www.thehindu.com/2001/09/17/stories/05172524.htm The Hindu: Delimitation of constituencies 17 September 2001]{{dead link|date=April 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> This was mainly done as states which had implemented family planning widely like [[Kerala]], [[Tamil Nadu]] and [[Punjab, India|Punjab]] would stand to lose many parliamentary seats representation and states with poor family planning programs and higher [[Indian states ranking by fertility rate|fertility rates]] like [[Uttar Pradesh]], [[Bihar]] and [[Rajasthan]] would adversely gain many of the seats transferred from better-performing states. So this is to be kept in the center of this estimate that high fertility states just get a few seats more and low fertility states lose a few seats too unlike USA.<ref>[http://www.outlookindia.com/magazine/story/fertility-is-power-mother-of-all-paradoxes/207088 Fertility Is Power: Mother Of All Paradoxes] - [[Outlook (Indian magazine)|The Outlook]]</ref>

==See also==
* [[Delimitation Act]]
* [[Boundary commissions (United Kingdom)]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
*[https://eci.gov.in/faqs/elections/delimitation-of-constituencies/faqs-delimitation-of-constituencies-r6/ Election Commission of India - FAQs - Delimitation of Constituencies]
*[http://www.rediff.com/election/2004/apr/12espec.htm Interesting facts about Lok Sabha Constituencies]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20090409213216/http://search.eci.gov.in/AE_2008E/ Karnataka assembly polls]

{{Indian commissions}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Delimitation Commission Of India}}
[[Category:Indian commissions and inquiries]]
[[Category:Elections in India]]
[[Category:Parliament of India]]
[[Category:Boundary commissions|India]]
[[Category:2002 in India]]

Delimitation Commission of India - Revision history

>CX Zoom at 14:09, 5 July 2021