Government proposes expanding Lok Sabha from 543 to 850 seats: Sources

As per sources, the central government has proposed a major expansion of the Lok Sabha, increasing its strength from 543 to 850 seats as part of a wider delimitation exercise ahead of the 2029 general elections. A draft bill has reportedly been shared with Members of Parliament for discussion, outlining 815 seats for states and 35 for Union Territories.

As per sources, the proposal is linked to the implementation of the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, which provides for one-third reservation for women in the Lok Sabha. The government is said to be planning to delink the reservation from a fresh Census and instead rely on 2011 Census data to meet the timeline for implementation by 2029.

As per sources, the restructuring also includes a significant increase in reserved constituencies for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. SC seats are expected to rise from 84 to up to 136, while ST seats may increase from 47 to around 70, aiming to reflect updated demographic considerations in parliamentary representation.

As per sources, the government is preparing to introduce a Delimitation Bill 2026 to redraw constituency boundaries based on the 2011 Census. The exercise is expected to follow a proportional approach to ensure balanced representation across states, particularly addressing concerns from southern states over population-based seat redistribution.

As per sources, the proposed changes will require constitutional amendments, including modifications to seat allocation provisions, and must be passed with a two-thirds majority in both Houses of Parliament. A special extended session has been planned to deliberate on the legislation, which, if approved, would significantly alter India’s parliamentary structure and representation.