Lok Sabha seats to rise to 850 to house more women

Seat allocation will be based on proportional representation, south states are likely to benefit

- PTI

As per the Constitution amendment bill, seats would also be increased in state and Union territory assemblies to accommodate 33% reservation for women.

(BLOOMBERG)

Lok Sabha seats will be increased to a maximum of 850 from the current 543 to “operationalise” the women’s reservation law before the 2029 parliamentary polls following a delimitation exercise to be carried out on the basis of last published census.

According to the draft Constitution amendment bill, which will be introduced and expected to be passed in the upcoming special sitting of Parliament, seats would also be increased in state and Union territory assemblies to accommodate 33% reservation for women.

The seats reserved for women in Lok Sabha and legislative assemblies “shall be allotted by rotation to different constituencies in a state or Union territory,” the bill circulated among Lok Sabha members said.

Besides other provisions, the bill seeks to amend Article 81 of the Constitution.