Delimitation 2026: Southern States Fear Loss of Parliamentary Seats After Census Delay

In this explainer, the focus is on the delimitation exercise scheduled for 2026 and the concerns it has raised among southern states. The Unidentified speaker details how the process, which fixes the number of Lok Sabha and assembly seats based on population, was frozen after the 1971 census to encourage population control. With the freeze ending and the census delayed due to Covid-19, projections mentioned in the report suggest southern states like Tamil Nadu and Kerala could lose significant representation, while northern states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar could gain seats. The segment notes that Chief Ministers like MK Stalin have sought unity to oppose this, while Home Minister Amit Shah has issued clarifications.