Delimitation and Financial Devolution
Delimitation and financial devolution have sparked debates, raising concerns about the federal structure of India.
The constitutional freeze on parliamentary seats is set to expire in 2026, causing anxiety over political representation, especially in peninsular states.
The development and demographic divides in India influence the need for balanced representation in political and financial allocations.
Historical Context of Delimitation
Between 1951 and 1971, the number of Lok Sabha seats increased to reflect population growth, rising from 7.3 lakh per seat to 10.1 lakh per seat.
Since 1971, the number of seats has been frozen until 2026.
By 2026, projections suggest 753 seats with around 20 lakh people per seat, potentially reducing representation for peninsular states compared to populous northern states.
Challenges
The 15th Finance Commission introduced the idea of incorporating demographic performance alongside population data for financial devolution.
The population weight in devolution was increased from 0.15 to 0.27 to balance representation between high-population states with poor demographic performance and lower-population states with better demographics.
Concerns arise over the idea that southern states will lose seats while northern states gain, raising fairness issues.
Proposed Solutions
The debate suggests moving beyond population size alone for determining representation.
Population density could be considered instead of population numbers, as seen in northeastern states with lower populations but higher density.
Maintaining the status quo may require proportional increases in seats based on population norms.
A demographic outlook considers factors like gender, caste, and other characteristics for fair representation, instead of relying solely on raw population counts.
Per-capita measures often misrepresent the actual needs and entitlements, leading to unfair comparisons.
A more holistic approach is needed, accounting for demographic characteristics to ensure equitable representation and fair financial devolution.
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