The Centre has proposed the 131st Constitution Amendment Bill to enlarge the Lok Sabha. The Bill raises the maximum strength of the House from 550 to 850 members. Notably, up to 815 members would come from the states. Up to 35 members would come from the Union Territories. The Law Ministry introduced it in the Lok Sabha on 16 April 2026.
What the Bill Proposes
At present, the Lok Sabha has 543 seats. The Bill raises the cap on state seats from 530 to 815. Similarly, it raises the cap on UT seats from 20 to 35. However, it leaves the Rajya Sabha limit of 250 unchanged. Moreover, it lets Parliament decide by law when delimitation happens and which census it uses.
Link With Women’s Reservation
The 106th Amendment of 2023 reserves one-third of Lok Sabha and Assembly seats for women. However, it ties this quota to delimitation after the first census following 2023. The new Bill sought to remove that link. As a result, women’s reservation could start sooner, using 2011 Census data.
Companion Bills
The government moved two more Bills on the same day. The Delimitation Bill, 2026, proposed a new Delimitation Commission. A serving or retired Supreme Court judge would chair it. Likewise, the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026, covered Delhi, Puducherry and Jammu and Kashmir.
Concerns Raised
Critics worried about the shift in seat shares. For example, Tamil Nadu’s share would fall, while Uttar Pradesh’s would rise. Southern and northeastern states called this a “demographic penalty.” Also, many parties wanted women’s reservation delinked from delimitation.
Latest Update: Bill Defeated
On 17 April 2026, the Bill failed in the Lok Sabha. It won 298 votes in favour. However, a constitution amendment needs a two-thirds majority of members present and voting. With 528 members voting, the government needed 352 votes. Therefore, it fell 54 votes short. The government then withdrew the two companion Bills.
131st Constitution Amendment Bill: Key Facts for Revision
- Proposed Lok Sabha cap: 850 (815 states, 35 UTs)
- Current strength: 543 seats
- Introduced: 16 April 2026
- Outcome: Defeated on 17 April 2026 (298 votes; 352 needed)
- Amendment procedure: Article 368, special majority
Why the 131st Constitution Amendment Bill Matters for UPSC and UKPSC
Notably, delimitation and women’s reservation are major GS Paper II issues. So, remember the proposed numbers, the vote count and Article 368. Also, link this Bill with the 42nd, 84th and 106th Amendments. For official updates, also visit PRS Legislative Research. Next, for a related story, read about the bill to raise the Supreme Court’s strength to 37 judges.
So, are you preparing for the UKPSC Upper PCS 2026 prelims? Then join our UKPSC 2026 Prelims Test Series for regular practice.