EAC-PM Proposes 824-Seat Lok Sabha Through Targeted Delimitation Plan

As India moves closer to a long-awaited delimitation exercise after the 2027 Census , a new working paper by the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM) has proposed a major overhaul of parliamentary constituencies that could expand the Lok Sabha from 543 to 824 seats while largely preserving the balance of representation between southern and northern states.

The paper, titled “Constituency Size, Composition and the Case for Delimitation in India’s Lok Sabha (2009–2024)” , argues that future delimitation should focus on reducing oversized constituencies rather than relying solely on population-based seat redistribution. Authored by Dr Shamika Ravi and Mudit Kapoor of the Indian Statistical Institute’s Delhi Centre, the study recommends a targeted delimitation model aimed at improving voter access and boosting electoral participation.

Under the proposal, 170 existing Lok Sabha constituencies would be split into smaller units, including 59 two-way splits and 111 three-way splits , taking the total number of constituencies to 824. The authors estimate that such restructuring could increase voter turnout by 0.3 to 2.3 percentage points , potentially bringing an additional 9 million to 23 million voters to polling booths in the next general election.

The recommendations come amid an ongoing national debate over delimitation and representation. The Centre has indicated plans to revisit proposals related to nationwide delimitation, expansion of the Lok Sabha to around 850 seats , and implementation of women's reservation in legislatures. Similar bills introduced earlier failed to secure the required parliamentary support.

A key feature of the EAC-PM proposal is its effort to address concerns raised by southern states that fear losing political influence under a purely population-based redistribution system. According to the study, the share of seats held by southern states would remain broadly stable at 23.7% , compared to 23.6% currently, while northern and western states would account for 45.6% , only slightly higher than the present 45.2%.

The paper also highlights the growing challenge of constituency size. The median Lok Sabha constituency had 18.2 lakh registered voters in 2024 , while some constituencies exceeded 32 lakh electors . Researchers found that larger constituencies generally record lower voter participation.

Among the study's notable findings, ST-dominated constituencies continue to show high turnout levels, while highly urban constituencies experience lower participation. It also identifies urban women as the least-participating voter group, recommending measures such as women-only polling booths , extended polling hours, improved transport access, and greater use of ASHA workers, Anganwadi centres and self-help groups to improve electoral participation.

The paper recommends that a future Delimitation Commission consider demographic and linguistic characteristics alongside constituency size, arguing that electoral reforms must go beyond redrawing boundaries to strengthen democratic representation and voter engagement.