The Union government is planning a major restructuring of India’s parliamentary system by proposing to increase the strength of the Lok Sabha from the current 543 seats to around 850. The move is part of a draft Constitutional Amendment that may be introduced in a special session of Parliament.
The proposed expansion is closely linked to the implementation of 33 percent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies. By increasing the total number of seats, the government aims to introduce the quota without significantly affecting the existing representation of political parties and regions.
According to the proposal, up to 815 seats would be allocated to states and about 35 to Union Territories, taking the total strength to 850. This, however, would be the upper limit, and the final number will depend on a fresh delimitation exercise.
The delimitation process, which redraws constituency boundaries, is expected to be carried out based on the latest available census data. The government is looking to complete this process in time to enable the implementation of women’s reservation before the 2029 general elections.
The proposal has already sparked political discussions, with opposition parties likely to question the timing, the use of census data, and the potential impact on the balance of representation among states.
If implemented, the move would mark one of the most significant changes to India’s electoral framework in decades, expanding parliamentary representation while opening the door for greater participation of women in politics.