The Delimitation Bill 2026 AND 2 other bills

jftLVªh lañ Mhñ ,yñ—¼,u½04@0007@2003—26 REGISTERED NO. DL—(N)04/0007/2003—26 सी.जी.-डी.xएxलx.G-अID.-1H6x0x42x026-271849 CG-DL-E-16042026-271849 xxxGIDExxx vlk/kkj.k EXTRAORDINARY Hkkx II — [k.M 2 PART II — Section 2 izkf/kdkj ls izdkf'kr PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY lañ 12] ubZ fnYyh] c`gLifrokj] vizSy 16] 2026@pS= 26] 1948 ¼'kd½ No. 12] NEW DELHI, THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2026/CHAITRA 26, 1948 (Saka) bl Hkkx esa fHkUu i`"B la[;k nh tkrh gS ftlls fd ;g vyx ladyu ds :i esa j[kk tk ldsA Separate paging is given to this Part in order that it may be filed as a separate compilation.

LOK SABHA LO__K__ _S_A__B_H__A The following Bills were int—rod—uc—ed— in Lok Sabha on 16th April, 2026:- The following Bills were introduced in Lok Sabha on 16th April, 2026:— BBilIlL NLo N. 1o0.7 1 o0f7 2 O02F6 2026 A Bill furthertoamendtheConstitution of India.

BE it enacted by Parliament in the Seventy-seventh Year of the Republic of

India as follows:––

1.(1)ThisActmaybecalledtheConstitution(OneHundredandThirty-first Short title and Amendment)Act,2026. commencement.

(2) It shall come into force on such date as theCentralGovernment may, by 5

notification in the Official Gazette, appoint.

2. In article 55 of the Constitution, for the Explanation, the following Amendment of Explanationshallbe substituted, namely:–– article 55.2 THE GAZETTE OF IND2I A EXTRAORDINARY [Part II— ‘Explanation.––In this article, the expression “population” means the population as ascertained at such census, as Parliament may by law determine under article 82 or article 170, of which the relevant figures have been published.’.

Amendment of 3. In article 81 of the Constitution,–– 5 article 81.

(a) for clause (1), the following clause shall be substituted, namely:–– “(1) The House of the People shall consist of—

(a) not more than eight hundred and fifteen members chosen by direct election from territorial constituencies in the States; and

(b) not more than thirty-five members to represent the Union 10 territories, chosen in such manner as Parliament may by law provide.”;

(b) for clause (3), the following clause shall be substituted, namely:–– ‘(3) In this article, the expression “population” means the population as ascertained at such census, as Parliament may by law 15 determine, of which the relevant figures have been published.’.

Amendment of 4. In article 82 of the Constitution,–– article 82.

(a) in the marginal heading, for the words “after each census”, the words “of constituencies” shall be substituted;

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(b) for the words “Upon the completion of each census, the allocation of seats”, the words “The allocation of seats” shall be substituted;

(c) for the words “by such authority and in such manner”, the words “in such manner and on the basis of such census, by the Delimitation Commission,” shall be substituted;

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(d) the third proviso shall be omitted.

Amendment of 5. In article 170 of the Constitution,–– article 170.

(a) in clause (1), for the words and figures “Subject to the provisions of article 333, the Legislative Assembly”, the words “The Legislative Assembly” shall be substituted;

30

(b) in clause (2), for the Explanation, the following Explanation shall be substituted, namely:–– ‘Explanation.––In this clause, the expression “population” means the population as ascertained at such census, as Parliament may by law determine, of which the relevant figures have been published.’;

35

(c) in clause (3),––

(i) for the words “Upon the completion of each census, the total number of seats”, the words “The total number of seats” shall be substituted;

(ii) for the words “by such authority and in such manner”, the words “in such manner and on the basis of such census, by the 40 Delimitation Commission,” shall be substituted;

(iii) the third proviso shall be omitted.

Amendment of 6. In article 330 of the Constitution, after clause (3), for the Explanation, the article 330. following Explanation shall be substituted, namely:–– 45Sec. 2] THE GAZETTE OF IND3I A EXTRAORDINARY 3 ‘Explanation.––In this article and in article 332, the expression “population” means the population as ascertained at such census, as Parliament may by law determine, of which the relevant figures have been published.’.

7. In article 332 of the Constitution, for clauses (3A) and (3B), the following Amendment of 5 clauses shall be substituted, namely:–– article 332. “(3A) Notwithstanding anything contained in clause (3), upon readjustment of the number of seats under article 170, the seats which shall be reserved for the Scheduled Tribes in the Legislative Assemblies of the States of Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Nagaland shall be,–– 10 (a) if all the seats in the Legislative Assembly of any such State are held by members of the Scheduled Tribes, all the seats except one;

(b) in any other case, such number of seats as bears to the total number of seats, a proportion not less than the number of members belonging to the Scheduled Tribes which the existing Assembly bears to 15 the total number of seats in that Assembly.

(3B) Notwithstanding anything contained in clause (3), upon readjustment of the number of seats under article 170, the seats which shall be reserved for the Scheduled Tribes in the Legislative Assembly of the State of Tripura shall be such number of seats as bears to the total number of seats, a 20 proportion not less than the number of members belonging to the Scheduled Tribes which the existing Assembly bears to the total number of seats in that Assembly.”.

Substitution of

8. For article 334A of the Constitution, the following article shall be article 334A. substituted, namely:–– 25 “334A. (1) Notwithstanding anything in the foregoing provisions of this Reservation of seats for women Part or Part VIII, the provisions of this Constitution relating to the reservation to take effect.

of seats for women in the House of the People, the Legislative Assembly of a State, the Legislative Assembly of the National Capital Territory of Delhi, the Legislative Assembly of the Union territory of Puducherry and the Legislative 30 Assembly of the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir shall come into effect after an exercise of delimitation is undertaken for this purpose.

(2) The reservation of seats for women in the House of the People, the Legislative Assembly of a State, the Legislative Assembly of the National Capital Territory of Delhi, the Legislative Assembly of the Union territory of 35 Puducherry and the Legislative Assembly of the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir shall cease to have effect on the expiry of a period of fifteen years from the commencement of the Constitution (One Hundred and Sixth Amendment) Act, 2023 unless Parliament may by law extend the period for such further time as it may specify in this behalf.

40 (3) The seats reserved for women in the House of the People, the Legislative Assembly of a State, the Legislative Assembly of the National Capital Territory of Delhi, the Legislative Assembly of the Union territory of Puducherry and the Legislative Assembly of the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir shall be allotted by rotation to different constituencies in a State or Union territory.

45 (4) Nothing in this article shall affect any representation in the House of the People, the Legislative Assembly of a State, the Legislative Assembly of the National Capital Territory of Delhi, the Legislative Assembly of the Union territory of Puducherry or the Legislative Assembly of the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir after the exercise of delimitation is undertaken, until the 50 dissolution of the then existing House of the People or the Legislative Assembly of a State or Union territory.”.4 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY [Part II— STATEMENT OF OBJECTS AND REASONS Article 82 and clause (3) of article 170 of the Constitution provide that upon completion of each census, the total number of seats allotted to each State in the House of the People and in the Legislative Assemblies, and the division of each State into territorial constituencies shall be readjusted by such authority and in such manner as Parliament may by law determine. The third proviso to article 82 and the third proviso to clause (3), of article 170, inter alia, provide that there shall be no fresh readjustment of constituencies until the relevant figures for the first census taken after the year 2026 have been published.

2. The Constitution (Eighty-fourth Amendment) Act, 2001 amended articles 55, 81, 82, 170, 330 and 332 to freezethe allocation of seats in the House of the People and State Legislative Assemblies on the basis of the 1971 census until the first census conducted after the year 2026, while providing for the readjustment of territorial constituencies on the basis of the figures of the 1991 census.

3. Subsequently, the Constitution (Eighty-seventh Amendment) Act, 2003 amended articles 81, 82, 170 and 330 to provide for readjustment of territorial constituencies including those reserved for the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes, based on the figures of 2001 census, without affecting the total number of seats allotted to the States in the House of the People or the State Legislative Assemblies.

4.While the freeze of seats on the basis of population figures of the year 1971 census served an important policy purpose, the country’s demographic profile has since undergone substantial changes, as reflected in the population figures of the latest published census, including significant inter-State and intra-State population shifts, rapid urbanisation and migration, and disproportionate growth in certain regions, resulting in wide disparities in the population and the constituencies.

5. Meanwhile, the Constitution (One Hundred and Sixth Amendment) Act, 2023 (popularly known as ‘Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam’), amended article 239AA and inserted articles 330A, 332A and 334A in the Constitution, to provide for reservation of nearly one-third of seats for women in the House of the People and the Legislative Assemblies (including women belonging to the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes) with the objective of achieving greater participation of women in the House of the People, the Legislative Assembly of a State and the Legislative Assembly of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. The said provisions contemplate that such reservation shall become operative after the first delimitation is undertaken on the basis of the relevant census taken after the commencement of the said Amendment Act.

6.The next census and the consequential delimitation exercise thereafter will take considerable time and thus, delay the effective and dedicated participation of women in our democratic polity. Hence, the objective of the proposed Bill is to operationalise one-third reservation for women, including women belonging to the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes, in the House of the People and the Legislative Assemblies of the States, the National Capital Territory of Delhi and the Union territories through delimitation exercise to be undertaken on the basis of the population figures of the latest published census. Thus, the implementation of reservation of seats for women is linked to the constitutional scheme of readjustment in the allocation of seats in the House of the People and the Legislative Assemblies and re-drawing boundaries of territorial constituencies by the Delimitation Commission.

4Sec. 2] THE GAZETTE OF IND5I A EXTRAORDINARY 5

7. The proposed Bill would facilitate delimitation of territorial constituencies and put in operation, the provisions providing for reservation of seats for women in the House of the People and the Legislative Assemblies. This will also promote women empowerment and provide opportunity for women to participate in the nation-building process. In addition, the increased representation of women in the decision-making process will promote inclusivity and help in achieving the goals of Viksit Bharat@2047.

The Bill seeks to achieve the above objectives.

NEW DELHI; ARJUN RAM MEGHWAL.

The 11th April, 2026.6 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY [Part II— BBIiLlLl NNoo.. 110099 oOfF 2 2002266 A Bill further to amend the Government of Union Territories Act, 1963, the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act, 1991and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019.

BE it enacted by Parliament in the Seventy-seventh Year of the Republic of

India as follows:––

CHAPTER I PRELIMINARY 5 1. (1) This Act may be called the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Short title and Act, 2026. commencement.

(2) It shall come into force on such date as the Central Government may, by

notification in the Official Gazette, appoint.Sec. 2] THE GAZETTE OF IND2I A EXTRAORDINARY 7

CHAPTER II AMENDMENTS TO THE GOVERNMENT OF UNION TERRITORIES ACT, 1963 Amendment of 2. In the Government of Union Territories Act, 1963 (hereafter in this Chapter 20 of 1963. long title. referred to as the principal Act), in the long title, for the words “Legislative Assemblies and Councils of Ministers for certain Union territories”, the words 5 “Legislative Assembly and Council of Ministers for the Union territory of Puducherry” shall be substituted.

Substitution of 3. Throughout the principal Act, except section 58, for the word “Pondicherry” certain wherever it occurs, the word “Puducherry” shall be substituted. expression with certain other expression.

Amendment of 4. In section 1 of the principal Act,–– 10

section 1.

(a) in sub-section (1), for the words “Union territories”, the words “Union territory of Puducherry” shall be substituted;

(b) in sub-section (2), the provisos shall be omitted.

Amendment of 5. In Part II of the principal Act, in the heading, for the word “Assemblies”, heading of the word “Assembly” shall be substituted. 15 Part II.

Amendment of 6. In section 3 of the principal Act,––

section 3.

(a) in the marginal heading, for the words “Assemblies for Union territories and their”, the words “Assembly and its” shall be substituted;

(b) in sub-section (1), for the words “each Union territory”, the words “the Union territory of Puducherry” shall be substituted; 20

(c) for sub-section (2), the following sub-section shall be substituted,

namely:–– “(2) The Legislative Assembly of the Union territory shall consist of such number of members, to be chosen by direct election from territorial constituencies in the Union territory, as may be determined by 25 the Delimitation Commission referred to in section 40A, which shall not be less than thirty, in any case.”;

(d) in sub-section (3), the following proviso shall be inserted,

namely:— “Provided that the number of persons nominated under this 3 0 sub-section shall be increased to five, out of whom two shall be women, only after readjustment of constituencies takes effect under the applicable law on delimitation.”;

(e) in sub-section (5), for the Explanation, the following Explanation shall be substituted, namely:–– 35 ‘Explanation.—In this sub-section, the expression “population” shall have the same meaning as provided in the applicable law on delimitation.’.

Amendment of 7. In section 3A of the principal Act, in sub-section (3), for the words “in such

section 3A. manner as Parliament may by law determine”, the words, figures and letter “in the 40 manner provided by the applicable law on delimitation and the provisions of article 334A shall apply to such reservation” shall be substituted.

Omission of 8. Section 3B of the principal Act shall be omitted.

section 3B.8 THE GAZETTE OF IND3I A EXTRAORDINARY [Part II—

9. In section 5 of the principal Act, in the marginal heading, for the word Amendment of “Assemblies”, the word “Assembly” shall be substituted. section 5.

10. In section 25 of the principal Act, the third proviso shall be omitted. Amendment of

section 25.

11. In Part III of the principal Act,–– Amendment of Part III.

(a) section 38 shall be omitted;

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(b) in section 40, the following proviso shall be inserted, namely:— “Provided that the seat allotted under this section shall be subject to readjustment of constituencies by the Delimitation Commission referred to in section 40A.”;

10 (c) after section 40, the following section shall be inserted, namely:— “40A. The readjustment of Assembly and Parliamentary Delimitation of constituencies in the Union territory of Puducherry may be determined constituencies.

by the Delimitation Commission under the applicable law on

delimitation:

15 Provided that such readjustment shall not affect representation in the Legislative Assembly until the dissolution of the then existing

Assembly:

Provided further that until such readjustment takes effect, any election to the Legislative Assembly may be held on the basis of the 20 territorial constituencies existing before such readjustment.”;

(d) sections 41, 42, 43, 43A, 43B, 43C, 43D, 43E and 43F shall be omitted.

12. In section 44 of the principal Act, in sub-section (1), for the words “each Amendment of Union territory”, the words “the Union territory of Puducherry” shall be substituted. section 44.

25 13. Sections 53, 54, 54A and 57 of the principal Act shall be omitted. Omission of sections 53, 54, 54A and 57.

14. The Second Schedule to the principal Act shall be omitted. Omission of Second Schedule.

CHAPTER III AMENDMENTS TO THE GOVERNMENT OF NATIONAL CAPITAL TERRITORY OF DELHI ACT, 1991 1 of 1992. 30 15. In the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act, 1991 Amendment of (hereafter in this Chapter referred to as the principal Act), in section 3,–– section 3.

(a) for sub-section (1), the following sub-section shall be substituted,

namely:— “(1) The Legislative Assembly of the Capital shall consist of such 35 number of members, to be chosen by direct election from territorial constituencies in the Capital, as may be determined by the Delimitation Commission referred to in section 38, which shall not be less than seventy, in any case.”;

(b) in sub-section (3), for the Explanation and the provisos, the following 40 Explanation shall be substituted, namely:–– ‘Explanation.—In this sub-section, the expression “population” shall have the same meaning as provided in the applicable law on delimitation.’.Sec. 2] THE GAZETTE OF IND4I A EXTRAORDINARY 9 Substitution of 16. For section 38 of the principal Act, the following section shall be new section for substituted, namely:––

section 38.

Delimitation of “38. The readjustment of Assembly and Parliamentary constituencies in constituencies. the Capital may be determined by the Delimitation Commission under the

applicable law on delimitation: 5

Provided that such readjustment shall not affect representation in the

Legislative Assembly until the dissolution of the then existing Assembly:

Provided further that until such readjustment takes effect, any election to the Legislative Assembly may be held on the basis of the territorial constituencies existing before such readjustment.”. 10 Omission of 17. Section 39 of the principal Act shall be omitted.

section 39.

CHAPTER IV AMENDMENTS TO THE JAMMU AND KASHMIR REORGANISATION ACT, 2019 Amendment of 18. In the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019 (hereafter in this 34 of 2019.

section 10. Chapter referred to as the principal Act), in section 10, the following proviso shall 15 be inserted, namely:–– “Provided that the number of seats allocated under this section shall be subject to readjustment of constituencies by the Delimitation Commission referred to in section 60.”.

Amendment of 19. In section 14 of the principal Act,–– 20

section 14.

(a) for sub-section (3), the following sub-section shall be substituted,

namely:–– “(3) The Legislative Assembly of the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir shall consist of such number of members, to be chosen by direct election from territorial constituencies in the Union territory, as 25 may be determined by the Delimitation Commission referred to in

section 60, which shall not be less than one hundred and fourteen, in any case.”;

(b) for sub-section (4), the following sub-section shall be substituted, 30

namely:–– “(4) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (3), until the area of the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir under the occupation of Pakistan ceases to be so occupied and the people residing in that area elect their representatives, twenty-four seats in the Legislative Assembly of Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir shall 35 remain vacant and shall not be taken into account for reckoning the total membership of the Assembly.”;

(c) in sub-section (7), for the Explanation, the following Explanation shall be substituted, namely:–– ‘Explanation.—In this sub-section, the expression “population” 40 shall have the same meaning as provided in the applicable law on delimitation.’;

(d) sub-sections (9) and (10) shall be omitted.10 THE GAZETTE OF IND5I A EXTRAORDINARY [Part II—

20. In section 14A of the principal Act, in sub-section (3), for the words “in Amendment of such manner as Parliament may by law determine”, the words, figures and letter “in section 14A. the manner provided by the applicable law on delimitation and the provisions of article 334A shall apply to such reservation” shall be substituted.

5 21. Section 14B of the principal Act shall be omitted. Omission of

section 14B.

22. In section 15 of the principal Act, the following proviso shall be inserted, Amendment of

namely:–– section 15. “Provided that the number of members nominated under this section shall be increased to three, only after readjustment of constituencies takes 10 effect under the applicable law on delimitation.”.

23. In section 15A of the principal Act, the following proviso shall be inserted, Amendment of

namely:–– section 15A. “Provided that the number of members nominated under this section shall be increased to three, only after readjustment of constituencies takes 15 effect under the applicable law on delimitation.”.

24. In Part V of the principal Act,— Amendment of Part V.

(a) section 59 shall be omitted;

(b) for section 60, the following section shall be substituted, namely:— “60. The readjustment of Assembly and Parliamentary Delimitation of 20 constituencies in the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir may be constituencies.

determined by the Delimitation Commission under the applicable law on

delimitation:

Provided that such readjustment shall not affect representation in the Legislative Assembly until the dissolution of the then existing 25 Assembly:

Provided further that until such readjustment takes effect, any election to the Legislative Assembly may be held on the basis of the territorial constituencies existing before such readjustment.”;

(c) sections 61, 62, 63 and 64 shall be omitted.Sec. 2] THE GAZETTE OF IND6I A EXTRAORDINARY 11 STATEMENT OF OBJECTS AND REASONS The Constitution (One Hundred and Sixth Amendment) Act, 2023 amended article 239AA and inserted articles 330A, 332A and 334A in the Constitution to provide for reservation of seats for women in the House of the People and the Legislative Assemblies, including in the Legislative Assemblies of Union territories. The said provisions contemplate that such reservation shall become operative after an exercise of delimitation undertaken on the basis of the relevant census.

2. Further, the Constitution (One Hundred and Thirty-first Amendment) Bill, 2026 seeks to revise the constitutional framework relating to delimitation, allocation of seats and the meaning of “population”, by providing that readjustment of constituencies and allocation of seats shall be undertaken by the Delimitation Commission on the basis of such census as Parliament may by law determine.

3. The provisions contained in the Government of Union Territories Act, 1963, the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act, 1991 and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019 are presently based on the existing constitutional framework relating to population, delimitation and reservation. Under the revised constitutional scheme, the expression “population”, the allocation of seats and the readjustment of Parliamentary and Assembly constituencies are proposed to be governed with reference to such census as Parliament may by law determine, and such readjustment is to be undertaken by the Delimitation Commission. The revised scheme also aligns the operation of reservation of seats for women in the Legislative Assemblies of the concerned Union territories with article 334A of the Constitution and the delimitation exercise undertaken thereunder. In view of these constitutional changes, the aforesaid enactments require suitable amendments so as to bring them in conformity with the revised constitutional scheme.

4. It is, therefore, proposed to amend the aforesaid enactments, inter alia, to—

(i) align the provisions relating to determination of population with the law relating to delimitation;

(ii) provide that the total number of seats in the Legislative Assemblies and their territorial composition shall be determined by the Delimitation Commission in accordance with the law made by Parliament, subject to prescribed minimum strength;

(iii) align the provisions relating to reservation for women with the constitutional framework under article 334A and the delimitation law;

(iv) provide for readjustment of Parliamentary and Assembly constituencies by the Delimitation Commission along with appropriate transitional safeguards; and

(v) omit obsolete, redundant or inconsistent provisions relating to earlier delimitation arrangements, so as to ensure clarity and coherence in the statutory framework.12 THE GAZETTE OF IND7I A EXTRAORDINARY [Part II—

5. The proposed amendments are largely consequential and enabling in nature, arising from the revised constitutional framework, and are intended to ensure consistency and effective implementation of the provisions relating to delimitation, representation and reservation in the Legislative Assemblies of Union territories.

They do not involve any independent policy departure but seek to harmonise the existing statutory provisions with the amended constitutional scheme.

6. The Bill seeks to achieve the above objectives.

NEW DELHI ; AMIT SHAH.

The 10th April, 2026.Sec. 2] THE GAZETTE OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY 13 BBILilLl NNoo.. 110088 OofF 22002266 A Bill to provideforthe readjustment oftheallocationof seats inthe HouseofthePeople to the States and Union territories, the total number of seats in the Legislative Assembly of each State and Union territories having a Legislative Assembly, the division of each State and each Union territory having a Legislative Assembly into territorial constituencies for elections to the House of the People and Legislative Assemblies of the States and Union territories and for matters connected therewith.

BE it enacted by Parliament in the Seventy-seventh Year of the Republic of

India as follows:—

1.(1) This Act may be called the Delimitation Act, 2026. Short title and commencement.

(2) It shall come into force on such date as the Central Government may, by 5 notification in the Official Gazette, appoint.14 THE GAZETTE OF IND2I A EXTRAORDINARY [Part II— Definitions. 2. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,—

(a) “article” means an article of the Constitution;

(b) “associate member” means a member nominated under section 5;

(c) “Commission” means the Delimitation Commission constituted 5 under section 3;

(d) “Election Commission” means the Election Commission referred to in article 324;

(e) “latest census figures” means the latest census figures published as on the date of the constitution of the Commission under section 3;

(f) “member” means a member of the Commission and includes the 10 Chairperson;

(g) “notification” means notification published in the Official Gazette;

(h) “population” means the population ascertained at the latest census of which the relevant figures have been published as on the date of the constitution of the Commission; and 15

(i) “State” includes a Union territory having a Legislative Assembly.

Constitution of 3. (1) The Central Government may, from time to time, by notification, Delimitation constitute a Commission to be called the Delimitation Commission.

Commission.

(2) The Commission shall comprise of the following members, namely:—

(a) one member, who shall be a person who is or has been a Judge of the 20 Supreme Court, to be appointed by the Central Government, as the Chairperson of the Commission;

(b) the Chief Election Commissioner or an Election Commissioner nominated by the Chief Election Commissioner, ex officio:

Provided that after the nomination of an Election Commissioner as a 25 member under this clause, no further nomination under this clause shall be made except to fill the casual vacancy of such member under section 6; and

(c) the State Election Commissioner of the State concerned, ex officio.

Explanation.—For the purposes of clause (c), the State Election Commissioner 30 of the State concerned,—

(i) in respect of the duties of the Commission relating to a State (other than the States of Meghalaya and Nagaland), means the State Election Commissioner appointed by the Governor of that State under clause (1) of article 243K; and

(ii) in respect of the duties of the Commission relating to the States of 35 Meghalaya and Nagaland, means a person nominated by the Governor of that State for such purposes.

(3) The Central Government may, by notification, specify the term of the

Commission:

Provided that the Central Government may, on the request of the Commission, 40 extend the term of the Commission by such further period as it may consider necessary.

(4) The Election Commission shall act as Delimitation Commission for the purpose of delimiting constituencies in the Legislative Assembly of the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir falling under the occupation of Pakistan, when the 45 area of the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir under the occupation of Pakistan ceases to be so occupied.Sec. 2] THE GAZETTE OF IND3I A EXTRAORDINARY 15

4. It shall be the duty of the Commission to readjust, on the basis of the latest Duties of the census figures, the allocation of seats in the House of the People to the States and Commission.

Union territories, the total number of seats in the Legislative Assembly of each State and the division of each State and Union territories into territorial 5 constituencies for the purpose of elections to the House of the People and to the

Legislative Assembly:

Provided that where on such readjustment only one seat is allocated in the House of the People to a State or Union territory, the whole of that State or Union territory shall form one territorial constituency for the purpose of elections to the 10 House of the People from that State or Union territory.

5. (1) The Commission shall associate with itself for the purpose of assisting Associate it in its duties in respect of each State, ten persons, five of whom shall be members members. of the House of the People representing that State and five shall be members of the

Legislative Assembly of that State:

15 Provided that where the number of members of the House of the People representing any State is five or less, then, all such members shall be the associate members for that State and in the latter case the total number of associate members shall be less than ten by such number as by which the total number of members of the House of the People representing that State is less than five.

20 (2) The persons to be so associated from each State shall be nominated, in the case of the members of the House of the People, by the Speaker of that House, and in the case of members of a Legislative Assembly, by the Speaker of that Assembly, having due regard to the composition of the House or, as the case may be, of the Assembly.

25 (3) The first nominations to be made under sub-section (2) shall be—

(a) made by the Speakers of the Legislative Assemblies within one month, and by the Speaker of the House of the People within two months, from the date of notification issued under sub-section (1) of section 3; and

(b) communicated to the Chief Election Commissioner, and where the 30 nominations are made by the Speaker of a Legislative Assembly, also to the Speaker of the House of the People.

(4) None of the associate members shall have a right to vote or to sign any decision of the Commission.

(5) The Commission shall have power to call upon— 35 (a) the Registrar-General and Census Commissioner, India or his nominee; or

(b) the Surveyor General of India or his nominee; or

(c) any other officer of the Central Government or State Government; or

(d) any expert in geographical information system; or 40 (e) any other person, whose expertise and knowledge are considered necessary by the Commission to provide assistance to it in addition to the assistance provided by the persons referred to in sub-section (1) and the officers and persons so called upon shall be duty bound to assist the Commission.

45 (6) One of the Secretaries to the Election Commission, to be nominated by the Election Commission, shall be the ex officio Secretary of the Commission and shall discharge his functions with the assistance of the employees of the Election Commission under the supervision of the Chairperson of the Commission.16 THE GAZETTE OF IND4I A EXTRAORDINARY [Part II— Casual 6. If the office of the Chairperson or of a member or of an associate member vacancies.

falls vacant owing to his death or resignation, it shall be filled as soon as may be practicable by the Central Government or the Speaker concerned under and in accordance with the provisions of section 3 or, as the case may be, of section 5.

Procedure and 7. (1) The Commission shall determine its own procedure and shall, in the 5 powers of performance of its functions, have all the powers of a civil court under the Code of Civil 5 of 1908.

Commission. Procedure, 1908, while trying a suit, in respect of the following matters, namely:—

(a) summoning and enforcing the attendance of witnesses;

(b) requiring the production of any document; and

(c) requisitioning any public record from any court or office. 10

(2) The Commission shall have power to require any person to furnish any information on such points or matters as in the opinion of the Commission may be useful for, or relevant to, any matter under the consideration of the Commission.

(3) The Commission may authorise any of its members to exercise any of the powers conferred on it by clauses (a) to (c) of sub-section (1) and sub-section (2), 15 and any order made or act done in exercise of any of those powers by the member authorised by the Commission in that behalf shall be deemed to be the order or act, as the case may be, of the Commission.

(4) If there is a difference of opinion among the members, the opinion of the majority shall prevail, and acts and orders of the Commission shall be expressed in 20 terms of the views of the majority.

(5) The Commission as well as any group of associate members shall have power to act notwithstanding the temporary absence of a member or associate member or the existence of a vacancy in the Commission or in that or any other group of associate members; and no act or proceeding of the Commission or of any 25 group of associate members shall be invalid or called in question on the ground, merely of such temporary absence or of the existence of such vacancy.

(6) The Commission shall be deemed to be a civil court for the purposes of sections 384 and 385 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023. 46 of 2023.

Explanation.—For the purposes of enforcing the attendance of witnesses, the 30 local limits of the jurisdiction of the Commission shall be the limits of the territory of India.

Readjustment of 8. The Commission shall, on the basis of the latest census figures and having number of seats. regard to the provisions of articles 81, 82, 170, sub-clause (b) and sub-clause (bc) of clause (2) of article 239AA, articles 330, 330A, 332, 332A and 334A, and also in 35 relation to the Union territory of Puducherry, the National Capital Territory of Delhi and the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, having regard to the relevant provisions of the Government of Union Territories Act, 1963, the Government of 20 of 1963.

National Capital Territory of Delhi Act, 1991 and the Jammu and Kashmir 1 of 1992.

Reorganisation Act, 2019, respectively, by order, determine,— 40 34 of 2019.

(a) the number of seats in the House of the People to be allocated to each State and Union territory and the number of seats, if any, to be reserved for the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes;

(b) the total number of seats to be assigned to the Legislative Assembly of each State and the number of seats, if any, to be reserved for the Scheduled 45 Castes and the Scheduled Tribes; andSec. 2] THE GAZETTE OF IND5I A EXTRAORDINARY 17

(c) the reservation of as nearly as may be, one-third of the total number of seats in the House of the People and the Legislative Assemblies of the States for women, including women belonging to the Scheduled Castes and the

Scheduled Tribes:

5 Provided that the total number of seats assigned to the Legislative Assembly of any State under this section shall be an integral multiple of the

number of seats in the House of the People allocated to that State:

Provided further that the seats reserved for women in the House of the People and the Legislative Assemblies of the States, including women 10 belonging to the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes, shall be allotted

by rotation to different constituencies in a State or a Union territory:

Provided also that seats reserved for women belonging to the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes shall be rotated within the constituencies reserved for the Scheduled Castes or the Scheduled Tribes, as the case may be.

15 9. (1) The Commission shall, in the manner herein provided, distribute the Delimitation of seats in the House of the People allocated to each State and Union territory and the constituencies. seats assigned to the Legislative Assembly of each State to single-member territorial constituencies and delimit them on the basis of the latest census figures, having regard to the provisions of the Constitution, the provisions of the Acts specified in 20 section 8 and the following provisions, namely:—

(a) all constituencies shall, as far as practicable, be geographically compact areas, and in delimiting them regard shall be had to physical features, existing boundaries of administrative units, facilities of communication and public convenience;

25 (b) every Assembly constituency shall be so delimited as to fall wholly within one Parliamentary constituency;

(c) constituencies in which seats are reserved for the Scheduled Castes shall be distributed in different parts of the State and located, as far as practicable, in those areas where the proportion of their population to the total 30 is comparatively large;

(d) constituencies in which seats are reserved for the Scheduled Tribes shall, as far as practicable, be located in areas where the proportion of their population to the total is the largest; and

(e) constituencies in which seats are reserved for the women including 35 women belonging to the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes, and rotation of such seats.

(2) The Commission shall—

(a) publish its proposals for the delimitation of constituencies, together with the dissenting proposals, if any, of any associate member who desires 40 publication thereof, in the Gazette of India and in the Official Gazettes of all the States concerned and also in such other manner as it thinks fit;

(b) specify a date on or after which the proposals shall be further considered by it;

(c) consider all objections and suggestions which may have been 45 received by it before the date so specified, and for the purpose of such consideration, hold one or more public sittings at such place or places in each State as it thinks fit; and

(d) thereafter by one or more orders determine—

(i) the delimitation of Parliamentary constituencies; and 50 (ii) the delimitation of Assembly constituencies, of each State.18 THE GAZETTE OF IND6I A EXTRAORDINARY [Part II— Publication of 10. (1) The Commission shall cause each of its orders made under section 8 orders and their or section 9 to be published in the Gazette of India and in the Official Gazettes of date of operation. the States concerned and simultaneously cause such orders to be published at least in two vernacular newspapers and publicise on radio, television and other possible media available to the public and after such publication in the Official Gazettes of 5 the States concerned, every District Election Officer shall cause to be affixed, the Gazette version of such orders relating to the area under his jurisdiction, on a conspicuous part of his office for public notice.

(2) Upon publication in the Gazette of India, every such order shall have the force of law and shall not be called in question in any court. 10

(3) As soon as may be after such publication, every such order shall be laid before the House of the People and the Legislative Assemblies of the States concerned.

(4) Subject to the provisions of sub-section (5), the readjustment of representation of the several territorial constituencies in the House of the People or 15 in the Legislative Assembly of a State and the delimitation of those constituencies

provided for in any such order shall apply in relation to every election to the House or to the Assembly, as the case may be, held after the publication in the Gazette of India of that order and shall so apply in supersession of the provisions relating to such representation and delimitation contained in any other law for the time being 20 in force or any order or notification issued under such law in so far as such representation and delimitation are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act.

(5) Nothing in this section shall affect the representation in the House of the People or in the Legislative Assembly of a State until the dissolution of the House or of the Assembly, as the case may be, existing on the date of publication in the 25 Gazette of India of the final order or orders of the Commission relating to the delimitation of Parliamentary constituencies or, as the case may be, of the Assembly constituencies of that State and any bye-election to fill any vacancy in such House or in any such Assembly shall be held on the basis of the provisions of the laws and orders superseded by sub-section (4) as if the said provisions had not been 30 superseded.

(6) The Commission shall endeavour to complete and publish each of its orders referred to in sub-section (1) in the manner provided in that sub-section, within the term specified in the notification issued under sub-section (3) of

section 3.

35 Power to

11. (1) The Election Commission may, from time to time, by notification in maintain the Gazette of India and in the Official Gazette of the State concerned,— delimitation orders up-to-

(a) correct any printing mistake in any of the orders made by the date.

Commission under section 9 or any error arising therein from an inadvertent slip or omission; and 40

(b) where the boundaries or name of any district or any territorial division mentioned in any of the said orders are or is altered, make such amendments as appear to it to be necessary or expedient for bringing the orders up-to-date, so, however, that the boundaries or areas or extent of any constituency shall not be changed by any such notification. 45

(2) Every notification under this section shall be laid, as soon as may be after it is issued, before the House of the People and the Legislative Assembly of the State concerned.Sec. 2] THE GAZETTE OF IND7I A EXTRAORDINARY 19

12. The provisions of this Act shall have overriding effect, notwithstanding Act to have anything contained in any other law for the time being in force, in respect of duties, overriding effect. powers and functions of the Commission under this Act.

33 of 2002. 13. The Delimitation Act, 2002 is hereby repealed. Repeal.20 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY [Part II— STATEMENT OF OBJECTS AND REASONS The existing allocation of seats of Parliamentary and Assembly Constituencies is based on the population figures published as per 1971 census and division of territorial constituencies is based on the population figures published as per 2001 census. The growth of population thereafter, across different constituencies in various parts of the country as well as within the same State along with migration of people from one place to other, especially from rural areas to urban areas, have resulted in varying density of population in electoral constituencies.

2.Articles 82 and 170 of the Constitution provide that the allocation of seats in the House of the People to the States and in the Legislative Assemblies, and the division of each State into territorial constituencies shall be readjusted in such manner and on the basis of such census, by such authority (the Delimitation Commission), as Parliament may by law determine.

3. Further, articles 239AA, 330A, 332A and 334A provide for, as nearly as may be, one-third reservation of seats for women in the House of the People and the Legislative Assemblies of the States, including within the seats reserved for the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes. These articles make provisions for enhancing women’s representation in the House of the People and the Legislative Assemblies effectively to enable greater participation of women in policy making and governance.

4. The purpose of the Bill is to constitute the Delimitation Commission to undertake the exercise of delimitation, inter alia, to provide reservation of seats for women in the House of the People and the Legislative Assemblies.

5. The provisions of the Bill seek to provide for the manner in which such exercise of delimitation will be undertaken by the Delimitation Commission, as may be constituted from time to time. The Delimitation Commission is empowered with the task of carrying out delimitation of Parliamentary and Assembly constituencies and to allocate seats to be reserved for women, including women belonging to the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes, in the House of the People and the Legislative Assemblies. The proposed delimitation will apply to every general election to the House of the People and the Legislative Assemblies held after the final orders of the Delimitation Commission are published and to every bye-election held thereafter.

The Bill seeks to achieve the above objectives.

NEWDELHI; ARJUN RAM MEGHWAL.

The11th April, 2026.

8Sec. 2] THE GAZETTE OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY 21 FINANCIAL MEMORANDUM Clause 3 of the Bill seeks to provide for the constitution of a Delimitation Commission consisting of three members of whom one shall be a person who is or has been a Judge of the Supreme Court and two other members being the Chief Election Commissioner or an Election Commissioner nominated by the Chief Election Commissioner and the State Election Commissioner of the concerned State, ex officio. The Commission shall also associate with itself for the purpose of assisting it in its duties in respect of each State, ten persons, five of whom shall be the members of the House of the People representing that State nominated by the Speaker of that House and five shall be the members of the Legislative Assembly of that State nominated by the Speaker of that Assembly.

2.The expenditure on account of setting up of the Commission including the salary and allowances of the Chairperson and other expenses in connection with the working of the Commission will be met from the Consolidated Fund of India and will be borne by the Election Commission of India along with other expenses incurred for the purpose of delimitation by the Commission.

3. At this stage, it is not possible to estimate precisely the total expenditure likely to be incurred on the proposed Commission. ———— UTPAL KUMAR SINGH, UTPALS KecUrMetaArRy- SGIeNnGerHal.

Secretary General UPLOADED BY THE MANAGER, GOVERNMENT OF INDIA PRESS, MINTO ROAD, NEW DELHI–110002 AND PUBLISHED BY THE CONTROLLER OF PUBLICATIONS, DELHI–110054.

MGIPMRND—22 GI(S4)—16-04-2026.

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