[Answered] Delimitation is a crucial exercise in a democracy, yet it raises concerns about gerrymandering and regional imbalances. Discuss the need for delimitation in India and analyze its potential benefits and challenges.

Delimitation, the process of redrawing electoral boundaries to reflect demographic changes, is a crucial aspect of representative democracy.

Need for Delimitation in India

• Correcting Malapportionment – The current freeze on delimitation, in place since 1976, has resulted in an imbalance where states with slower population growth, primarily in the South, enjoy higher representation than their population warrants, while populous states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar remain underrepresented.
• Reflecting Demographic Shifts – India’s population has changed significantly since the last delimitation, necessitating updated constituency boundaries to maintain equitable representation.
• Ensuring Political Equality – The principle of “one person, one vote” is weakened when constituency sizes vary widely in population, affecting democratic fairness.
• Empowering Marginalized Groups – The representation of Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and women remains inadequate due to outdated seat allocations based on the 2001 Census. A fresh delimitation can correct this underrepresentation.
• Enhancing Participatory Democracy – Expanding the number of seats in the Lok Sabha, as suggested by political experts, could ensure fairer representation without diminishing any state’s current parliamentary strength.

Challenges and Concerns

• Regional Disparities – Delimitation could shift power to the Hindi heartland, causing concerns in southern states that have successfully controlled population growth and contribute more to the central treasury.
• Potential Gerrymandering – Political manipulation of constituency boundaries could distort representation and undermine democratic fairness.
• Intra-State Inequalities – The process must account for factors beyond population, such as urbanization and economic contributions, to avoid reinforcing economic and political disparities.
• Delayed Women’s Representation – The Women’s Reservation Bill (2023) is tied to the next delimitation exercise, delaying gender parity in legislative bodies until at least 2029.
• Judicial Non-Intervention – The Supreme Court has upheld the finality of delimitation orders, limiting avenues for legal challenges against unfair seat allocations.

Way Forward

• Consensus-Driven Approach – A broad political consensus is essential to ensure that delimitation enhances, rather than disrupts, India’s democratic framework.
• Expanding Lok Sabha Strength – Instead of redistributing existing seats, increasing parliamentary seats could accommodate demographic shifts without diminishing representation for any region.
• Strengthening Rajya Sabha – Reforming the Rajya Sabha’s role could provide a counterbalance to the North-South power shift and ensure fairer federal representation.
• Devolving Power to States – Linking delimitation to greater devolution of power can strengthen local governance and mitigate fears of regional dominance.

Conclusion

A well-structured approach that balances demographic realities with federal equity can enhance India’s democratic longevity, ensuring that political representation remains just and inclusive.