Constitution Amendment Bill moots possible change in size of State Assemblies
The Constitution (106th Amendment) Act 2023 introduced women's reservation but made it contingent on a fresh delimitation post-Census. This item highlights the operative provision (Article 334A) and its practical trigger conditions, which are core to understanding constitutional amendments, delimitation process, and representation of women in legislatures — all key GS II themes.
Key facts
- The Bill substitutes Article 334A to operationalise one-third reservation for women in State Assemblies and Lok Sabha.
- Reservation will come into effect only after a fresh delimitation based on the latest published Census.
- The latest published Census as of now is the 2011 Census; the 2021 Census has not yet been conducted/published.
- Women's Reservation was enacted via the Constitution (106th Amendment) Act, 2023.
- Delimitation is the process of redrawing constituency boundaries, carried out by the Delimitation Commission under the Delimitation Act.
- The amendment potentially affects the size/composition of State Assemblies as fresh delimitation may alter seat counts.
The Bill substitutes Article 334A to operationalise the one-third reservation for women in the Assemblies. The provision states that the reservation will come into effect only after a fresh delimitation exercise is carried out on the basis of the latest published Census. As of now, the latest published Census is 2011.
Concepts to know
Inserted by the Constitution (106th Amendment) Act 2023, Article 334A reserves one-third of seats for women in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies. Crucially, the reservation is activated only after a delimitation exercise conducted on the basis of the first Census published after the commencement of this amendment.
Also called Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, this amendment inserts Articles 330A and 332A to reserve one-third of Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha seats for women. Implementation is deferred until after the next Census and delimitation.
A statutory body constituted under the Delimitation Act to determine the number and boundaries of constituencies for elections to the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies; its orders have the force of law and cannot be questioned in any court.
The Delimitation Act (most recently 2002) provides the legal framework for constituting a Delimitation Commission and the procedure for readjusting constituency boundaries based on census data.
A decennial exercise conducted under the Census Act, 1948 to enumerate India's population. The Census is constitutionally significant as it forms the basis for delimitation and resource allocation; the 2021 Census has been delayed.
Article 82 mandates readjustment of Lok Sabha seats and constituency boundaries after every census. The current freeze on seat readjustment was extended until the first census after 2026 to avoid penalising states with better population control.
Linked previous-year questions
The UPSC questions this story connects to.
Consider the following statements: 1. An amendment to the Constitution of India can be initiated by an introduction of a bill in the Lok Sabha only. 2. If such an amendment seeks to make changes in the federal character of the Constitution, the amendment also requires to be ratified by the legislature of all the States of India. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
- a.1 only
- b.2 only
- c.Both 1 and 2
- d.Neither 1 nor 2 ✓
Polity · UPSC 2013Consider the following statements: The Constitution of India provides that : 1. The Legislative Assembly of each State shall consist of not more than 450 members chosen by direct election from territorial constituencies in the State. 2. a person shall not be qualified to be chosen to fill a seat in the Legislative Assembly of a State if he/she is less than 25 years of age. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
- a.1 only
- b.2 only ✓
- c.Both 1 and 2
- d.Neither 1 nor 2
Polity · UPSC 2008Consider the following statements: 1. A bill amending the Constitution requires a prior recommendation of the President of India. 2. When a Constitution Amendment Bill is presented to the President of India, it is obligatory for the President of India to give his/her assent. 3. A Constitution Amendment Bill must be passed by both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha by a special majority and there is no provision for joint sitting. Which of the statements given above are correct? (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3
- a.1 and 2 only
- b.2 and 3 only ✓
- c.1 and 3 only
- d.1, 2 and 3
Polity · UPSC 2022Consider the following subjects under the Constitution of India: 1. List I-Union List, in the Seventh Schedule 2. Extent of the executive power of a State 3. Conditions of the Governor's office For a constitutional amendment with respect to which of the above, ratification by the Legislatures of not less than one-half of the States is required before presenting the bill to the President of India for assent? (a) I and II only (b) II and III only (c) I and III only (d) I, II and III
- a.I and II only ✓
- b.II and III only
- c.I and III only
- d.I, II and III
Polity · UPSC 2025Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists: List–I (Amendments to the Constitution) List–II A. The Constitution (Sixty-ninth Amendment) Act, 1991 1. Establishment of state level Rent Tribunals B. The Constitution (Seventy-fifth Amendment) Act, 1994 2. No reservations for Scheduled Castes in Panchayats in Arunachal Pradesh C. The Constitution (Eightieth Amendment) Act, 2000 3. Constitution of Panchayats in Villages or at other local level D. The Constitution (Eighty-third Amendment) Act, 2000 4. Accepting the recommendations of the Tenth Finance Commission 5. According the status of National Capital Territory to Delhi (a) A-5, B-1, C-4, D-2 (b) A-1, B-5, C-3, D-4 (c) A-5, B-1, C-3, D-4 (d) A-1, B-5, C-4, D-2
- a.A-5, B-1, C-4, D-2 ✓
- b.A-1, B-5, C-3, D-4
- c.A-5, B-1, C-3, D-4
- d.A-1, B-5, C-4, D-2
Polity · UPSC 2001Consider the following statements: 1. The Legislative Council of a State in India can be larger in size than half of the Legislative Assembly of that particular State. 2. The Governor of a State nominates the Chairman of the Legislative Council of that particular State. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
- a.1 only
- b.2 only
- c.Both 1 and 2
- d.Neither 1 nor 2 ✓
Polity · UPSC 2015
Get the full brief — free
Every story syllabus-mapped, the exact NCERT page to revise, a daily MCQ quiz and more — start free, no card needed.
Start free →