Prelims Perspective: What needs to be learned?

  • Delimitation and Its Need 
  • Constitutional Provisions for Delimitation 
  • Delimitation Commission 

Mains Perspective: Notes need to be prepared

What needs to be known?

  • Delimitation
    • Delimitation literally means the act or process of fixing limits or boundaries of territorial constituencies in a country to represent changes in population.
    • 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.
  • Why is it needed?
    • To provide equal representation to equal segments of a population.
    • Fair division of geographical areas so that no political party has an advantage over others in an election.
    • To follow the principle of “One Vote One Value”.
  • Constitutional Provisions For Delimitation
    • Article 82: The Parliament enacts a Delimitation Act after every Census.
    • Article 170: States also get divided into territorial constituencies as per the Delimitation Act after every Census.
Do You Know?

  • The first delimitation was carried out in 1950 -51.
  • Delimitation Commission
    • Formation: The Delimitation Commission was established by the Delimitation Commission Act,1952.
    • Appointment: The Delimitation Commission is appointed by the President of India and works in collaboration with the Election Commission of India.
    • Composition
      • Retired Supreme Court Judge
      • Chief Election Commissioner
      • Respective State Election Commissioners
    • Functions
      • To determine the number and boundaries of constituencies to make the population of all constituencies nearly equal.
      • To identify seats reserved for the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes, wherever their population is relatively large.

Source: The Hindu