DELIMITAION

The act or process of fixing limits or boundaries of territorial constituencies in a country to represent changes in population.

The Delimitation Commission is to work without any executive influence.

The Constitution mandates that the Commission’s orders are final and cannot be questioned before any court as it would hold up an election indefinitely.

When the orders of the Delimitation Commission are laid before the Lok Sabha or State Legislative Assembly, they cannot effect any modification in the orders.

Composition:

The Delimitation Commission is appointed by the President of India and works in collaboration with the Election Commission of India.

1Retired Supreme Court judge

2Chief Election Commissioner

3Respective State Election Commissioners

Articles

Under Article 82, the Parliament enacts a Delimitation Act after every Census.

Under Article 170, States also get divided into territorial constituencies as per Delimitation Act after every Census.

The first delimitation exercise was carried in 1950-51.

The Delimitation Commission Act was enacted in 1952.

Delimitation Commissions have been set up four times — 1952, 1963, 1973 and 2002 under the Acts of 1952, 1962, 1972 and 2002

Allocations

Highest-UTTAR PRADESH88

LOWEST-Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Chandigarh, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Daman & Diu, Ladakh, Lakshadweep, Nagaland, Puducherry, Sikkim with 1

Tamil Nadu -39

Next delimitation is to be held in 2026