Government proposes to increase Lok Sabha strength to 850 seats: Sources

Ahead of a crucial three-day special session of Parliament, the central government has shared a draft delimitation bill with Members of Parliament. The proposed legislation aims to increase the total number of Lok Sabha seats from the current five hundred and forty-three to eight hundred and fifty. Under this new arrangement, eight hundred and fifteen seats will be allocated to states, ensuring a straight fifty percent increase to address concerns from southern states, while the remaining thirty-five seats will be reserved for Union Territories. Three key legislation will be introduced during the session: the Constitutional Amendment Bill, the Delimitation Bill 2026, and the Union Territories Amendment Bill. These changes are tied to the implementation of the women's reservation policy ahead of the 2029 Lok Sabha elections. Meanwhile, the opposition INDIA bloc is scheduled to hold a strategic meeting to decide whether to support the government's proposed constitutional amendments during the upcoming parliamentary session.