2025, Vol. 7, Issue 12, Part A

India’s parliamentary seat distribution has remained unchanged since the 42nd Constitutional Amendment of 1976, despite the population increasing from 55 crore in 1971 to 143 crore in 2025. The freeze was intended to prevent states that had successfully controlled population growth from losing representation, but it has resulted in significant disparities: the average Member of Parliament (MP) now represents over 17 lakh people, compared to 6.8 lakh in 1971. Such imbalances undermine the equity of representation and the efficiency of governance, particularly in high-growth states.

This paper examines the historical and constitutional context of India’s delimitation policy and evaluates the country’s representation needs using Taagepera’s cube root law of assembly size. It incorporates a state-by-state analysis of population-to-seat ratios and assesses the proportionality of Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) fund allocations. By combining demographic modelling, mathematical analysis, and fiscal equity evaluation, the study proposes an evidence-based framework for determining the optimal size and distribution of parliamentary seats post-2026. The approach offers lessons for other large federal democracies facing similar representation challenges.