Govt Proposes 850-Seat Lok Sabha, 33% Women’s Quota & Delimitation Before 2029

April 15, 2026 - In a significant and, which could be a historic move, the Union Government has suggested the largest-ever expansion of India’s Parliament by proposing to increase the Lok Sabha strength from the current 543 to up to 850 seats. The Cabinet on Wednesday (April 15) gave the nod for the introduction of two Bills -  quota implementation and setting up of a Delimitation Commission - and wants them implemented by the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.

The Centre has drafted the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, which as per sources, has been shared with MPs. A special three-day sitting of Parliament from April 16 has been convened for discussions on the two Bills and fast-track the issues.

As per the proposal, the structure of the new House will include 815 seats for States and 35 seats for Union Territories. More significantly, this will introduce 33% quota for women in Parliament based on the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam of 2023. Around 270+ seats could be reserved for women if this amendment comes through.

The second Bill proposes to set up a Delimitation Commission for the redrawing of Lok Sabha constituency boundaries before the 2029 elections. The Bill proposes changes to Article 82 and remove the rule that delimitation must wait until post-2026 Census. The delimitation exercise will, however, be based on the 2011 Census and not the ongoing exercise and will effectively end the long freeze (since 1976) on seat redistribution.

There is likely to be much opposition to the Bills from parties other than from the NDA. Congress leader Sonia Gandhi has flagged the delimitation proposal. In an article for The Hindu, Gandhi wrote, “The real issue is delimitation which, based on the information unofficially available, is extremely dangerous and an assault on the Constitution itself,"

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged all political parties to vote in favour of the two Bills saying they have in the past unanimously agreed on them and had called for early implementation of the quota law.  He described the upcoming special sittings of Parliament as a historic moment.

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