1. The Buddha & Angulimala READ MORE
2. Facts, fiction and Black Swans READ MORE

1. BIMSTEC region can provide green, affordable energy access to all READ MORE
2. ‘Insatiable demand from the East, greed & lack of political will is enabling poaching across Africa’ READ MORE

1. Unscrupulous Inequality READ MORE
2. Make public places accessible to the disabled READ MORE

1. Choosing the watchdog: On Election Commissioners appointment READ MORE
2. Former CEC S Y Quraishi writes: Supreme Court order on appointments will enhance Election Commission’s credibility READ MORE
3. Supreme Court’s Election Commission verdict: When judicial activism writes the law READ MORE
4. SC acted on EC selection because Parliament didn’t for 73 years READ MORE
5. Guv vs states tussle needs a political fix READ MORE
6. Panel on EC appointments: SC shows the way, onus on Parliament to make law READ MORE
7. Perfect Bureaucracy READ MORE

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. Sovereign Gold Bond Scheme 2022-23 READ MORE  
2. PMI suggests services activity hit 12-year high in Feb. READ MORE
3. India scores 74.4 in World Bank index on life cycle of working women READ MORE
4. Kuno National Park unsuitable to host all 20 cheetahs, not enough prey, says scientist READ MORE
5. World Bank to lend $1 billion to support India’s health sector READ MORE
6. Supreme Court eases norm for selection of consumer court presidents, members READ MORE
7. An Express Investigation – Part Three: Red flags, India’s green certification under cloud READ MORE
8. Our forests are under threat — here’s how they are certified READ MORE
9. BIMSTEC region can provide green, affordable energy access to all READ MORE
10. After 89 years, frog endemic to the higher altitudes of Western Ghats ‘rediscovered’ READ MORE  
11. How SpaceX and other companies’ satellites are spoiling images taken by Hubble telescope READ MORE

Main Exam

GS Paper- 1

1. Unscrupulous Inequality READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Choosing the watchdog: On Election Commissioners appointment READ MORE
2. Former CEC S Y Quraishi writes: Supreme Court order on appointments will enhance Election Commission’s credibility READ MORE
3. Supreme Court’s Election Commission verdict: When judicial activism writes the law READ MORE
4. SC acted on EC selection because Parliament didn’t for 73 years READ MORE
5. Guv vs states tussle needs a political fix READ MORE
6. Panel on EC appointments: SC shows the way, onus on Parliament to make law READ MORE
7. Perfect Bureaucracy READ MORE

 SOCIAL ISSUES

1. Make public places accessible to the disabled READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. Creative formulas: On India, G20 and the Ukraine conflict READ MORE
2. Mint Explainer: What the G20 foreign ministers meeting meant for India READ MORE
3. Leveraging BRICS in times of economic uncertainty READ MORE
4. One Year of the Russia–Ukraine War READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. Data dissonance: On the revised GDP estimates READ MORE
2. Ensure price guarantee under contract farming READ MORE
3. ‘War is slowing down economic growth’ READ MORE
4. Can India Become a Developed Economy and Catch Up with China? Three Scenarios READ MORE

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

1. Generative AI and Large Language Models: The AI Gold Rush READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. BIMSTEC region can provide green, affordable energy access to all READ MORE
2. ‘Insatiable demand from the East, greed & lack of political will is enabling poaching across Africa’ READ MORE

SECURITY

1. Cyberattacks are rising, but there is an ideal patch READ MORE
2. Dealing with the cyber threats READ MORE

DISASTER MANAGEMENT

1. Lessons from Turkey: How to make India earthquake prepared READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. The Buddha & Angulimala READ MORE
2. Facts, fiction and Black Swans READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. ‘Mere allocation of large funds could not ensure the nation’s development or public welfare’. In light of this statement, do you agree with the view that there should be a third-party review, as recommended by the 15th finance commission, of the proper implementation of all Central Schemes?
2. ‘Perfect’ Bureaucracy, a term coined by Prime Minister Modi, is not possible in India because of the politically influenced environment, but we can develop an able and sensitive administration to ensure that the benefits of Government schemes reach the poorest and well in time by effective implementation of Mission Karamyogi. Examine.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• The price of inaction is far greater than the cost of making a mistake.
• The post of the Governor, a relic of the colonial era, often becomes a fifth wheel and a clog to democratic governance, when provincial autonomy is diluted, or an elected government is derailed.
• Federalism is an integral part of the basic structure of our Constitution, and it is intertwined inextricably with the unity and integrity of the nation.
• Despite recommendations of the Sarkaria and Venkatachaliah Commissions, active party politicians have been appointed as Governors. There are instances of young party loyalists being appointed as Governors who were later sworn in as Ministers in the States.
• A look at the estimated receipt and expenditure position of Budget 2023-24 would make it clear that the Government is consciously ignoring the fiscal consolidation measures enunciated in the last year’s budget.
• The judicial system ought not to enjoy unfettered freedom in the name of the independence of the judiciary.
• There is a need for a reformed mechanism for the appointment of judges to the constitutional courts where the judiciary and executive could amicably come to the conclusion.
• The rule of law requires that law be applied consistently & impartially.
• Smart technologies and solutions thus have the potential to alter the entire value chain of businesses across industries.
• Digitalisation is inevitable, but it must be adopted only after proper ‘digital literacy’; end users must be made aware of its drawbacks.
• A country that is fast emerging as a global leader cannot afford to let an unhealthy preoccupation with the past cast a shadow on its promising future.
• Technical and operational gaps leading to inclusion or exclusion errors must be plugged to ensure the money reaches the intended beneficiaries.
• Reducing the inevitable negative impact of conflicts between major powers on the forum will be a diplomatic achievement for Delhi in G20.

ESSAY TOPIC

• The secret of all victory lies in the organisation of the non-obvious.

50-WORD TALK

• With concentration of power in a handful of companies that operate a contract, it is the weaker link that invariably tends to get exploited. With more than half of the US egg production in the hands of four large companies, contract farmers are a captive lot. It is true that the companies reeling out a contract provide chicks, feed, medicines, veterinary and technical advice, while poultry farmers are expected to ensure land and housing, which is an expensive proposition.

Things to Remember:

• For prelims-related news try to understand the context of the news and relate with its concepts so that it will be easier for you to answer (or eliminate) from given options.
• Whenever any international place will be in news, you should do map work (marking those areas in maps and exploring other geographical locations nearby including mountains, rivers, etc. same applies to the national places.)
• For economy-related news (banking, agriculture, etc.) you should focus on terms and how these are related to various economic aspects, for example, if inflation has been mentioned, try to relate with prevailing price rises, shortage of essential supplies, banking rates, etc.
• For main exam-related topics, you should focus on the various dimensions of the given topic, the most important topics which occur frequently and are important from the mains point of view will be covered in ED.
• Try to use the given content in your answer. Regular use of this content will bring more enrichment to your writing.

THE CONTEXT: As India prepares for its next Census, the Delimitation of Lok Sabha seats and the distribution of central funds to states based on the population has become a point of concern. Southern states, which have implemented family planning programs more effectively than Northern states, may be unfairly treated in this process. Another issue is of dismissing of petition by Supreme Court which challenged the delimitation exercise carried out for redrawing the Legislative Assembly and Lok Sabha constituencies in the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir. In this regard, this article will discuss the process of Delimitation, its historical background, related issues and measures that need to be taken to resolve the issue.

ISSUE RELATED TO JAMMU KASHMIR DELIMITATION

PETITIONER STAND

• Petitioners had contended that the delimitation exercise was in violation of the scheme of the Constitution of India, especially Article 170(3), which had frozen delimitation till the first census after 2026. He had argued that the delimitation exercise was being carried out in the teeth of constitutional and statutory provisions.
• It had had emphasized that post 2008, all delimitation related exercise can be carried out only by the Election Commission and not a Delimitation Commission.

COUNTER ARGUMENT BY CENTRE GOVERNMENT

• Centre Government argued that the legislature intended the first delimitation to be undertaken by a Delimitation Commission and not the Election Commission as it is busy holding election.
• Centre had said the Jammu and Kashmir Re-organisation Act does not preclude the establishment of a Delimitation Commission by the Central Government and provides for two alternative mechanisms to carry out delimitation for the Union Territory.
• On the legality of the Centre setting up a Delimitation Commission by notification dated March 6, 2020, the bench said “the J&K Reorganization Act, which created the two new Union territories, assigns the role of readjustment of constituencies to the Delimitation Commission under the Delimitation Act, 2002”.
• Supreme Court, on Monday, dismissed a petition which challenged the delimitation exercise carried out for redrawing the Legislative Assembly and Lok Sabha constituencies in the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir

WHAT IS DELIMITATION?

• Delimitation is the process of fixing limits or boundaries of territorial constituencies in a country to reflect changes in population.
• The main objective is to follow the principle of “One Vote One Value” and ensure a fair division of geographical areas to prevent any political party from having an advantage in an election.
• It allows for the legitimate transferability and visibility of votes within the larger democratic scheme.

Delimitation Commission

• The Delimitation Commission Act was established in 1952 and allowed the Union government to set up a Delimitation Commission as needed.
• The Union government sets up Delimitation Commission after every Census, as per the provisions of the Delimitation Commission Act and the Constitution of India (Articles 82 and 170).
• The Delimitation Commission in India is appointed by the President of India and works in collaboration with the Election Commission of India.
• The Commission is composed of a retired Supreme Court judge, the Chief Election Commissioner, and the respective State Election Commissioners.
• Its functions include determining the number and boundaries of constituencies to make the population of all constituencies nearly equal and identifying seats reserved for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes where their population is relatively large.
• In case of a difference of opinion, the opinion of the majority prevails and the Commission’s orders have the force of law and cannot be challenged in court.

How is Delimitation done?

• According to Article 82 of the Constitution, Parliament enacts a Delimitation Act after Census that is held every 10 years. The Union government then constitutes a Delimitation Commission headed by a retired Supreme Court judge. The Commission examines population data, existing constituencies, the number of seats to be analyzed, holds meetings with all the stakeholders and submits its recommendation to the government.
• The draft report of the Delimitation Commission is published in the Gazette of India, the official gazettes of the states concerned and at least two vernacular publications seeking feedback from the general public.

WHAT IS THE DEBATE NOW?

POTENTIAL IMPACT OF DELIMITATION ON THE 2031 CENSUS:

2019 research paper “India’s Emerging Crisis of Representation” speculates potential impact of Delimitation on the allocation of seats in India’s parliament. According to the paper, if the Delimitation is carried out based on the 2031 Census, states in the north such as Bihar and Uttar Pradesh are expected to gain 21 seats, while southern states like Tamil Nadu and Kerala may lose 16 seats.

PERFORMANCE OF SOUTHERN STATES

The economic situation of the Southern states has improved significantly in recent years, with a significant reduction in poverty and an increase in income levels. The combined GDP of just three states, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu is greater than 13 states in the East. In terms of educational and health outcomes, the southern states have performed better compared to the northern states, with a higher proportion of graduates and better learning outcomes.

LOSS OF FUNDS AND REPRESENTATION TO SOUTHERN STATES

Concerns were raised about southern states losing funding and representation in parliament after the 15th Finance Commission used the 2011 Census as a basis for its recommendations. Implementing effective family planning programs has led to a lower population growth rate in Southern states compared to Northern states, which could result in a smaller share of central funds and fewer Lok Sabha seats for Southern states in the delimitation exercise

DEMAND OF SOUTHERN STATES

Southern states argue that they should be recognised and rewarded for their efforts to control population growth, rather than penalized for their success, as  better educational and health outcomes in the Southern states imply a better ability to discern and make decisions, and a higher expectation for better public services and governance.

HISTORICAL CONTEXT

• Constitutional provisions: The Constitution under Article 82 and 83 provides for consistent delimitation exercises, every 10 years, post every Census. It coupled with providing the power to legislate matters related to Delimitation under Article 327, which is not subject to judicial review.
• Four delimitation commissions have been set up, in 1952, 1963, 1973, and 2002, under the Acts of 1952, 1962, 1972, and 2002, respectively. The first delimitation exercise was carried out by the President, with the assistance of the Election Commission, in 1950-51.
• Freezing till 2001: Post the setting up of three delimitation commissions until 1972, the Union Government, led by the Indian National Congress with Indira Gandhi at the helm, imposed a freeze on this delimitation exercise till the year 2001 under the 42nd Constitutional Amendment.
• Freezing till 2026: In 2001, the year the freeze on Delimitation was supposed to expire the then ruling National Democratic Alliance (‘NDA’)-run Union Government, which had a clear political incentive to have resumed Delimitation, extended the freeze till 2026 with identical justifications. According to the Constitution (84th Amendment) Act, 2002, there is a freeze on readjustment of constituencies till the first Census after 2026.
• In 2008, it seemed to be reverting the freeze on Delimitation, but it was masked by a deliberate and inconsistent approach to only remove the freeze for the SC and ST seats and adjust them according to the 2001 Census in 2008 via the Election Commission’s Delimitation of Parliamentary and Assembly Constituencies Order, 2008 one of the most structurally intuitive appeasement policies till date.
• The rationale given by the Centre in the past to postpone the demand for a delimitation exercise till 2026 was the freeze after the last population-based Delimitation in the country was held in 1971. The Centre said the next delimitation exercise in the country cannot be held until the first Census after 2026. This in effect meant that the next Delimitation can be carried out only according to the 2031 census . This position flows from the 84th amendment of the Constitution, passed when late Atal Bihari Vajpayee was leading the NDA government. However, nothing stops the government from amending the Constitution further to prepone the delimitation process to any time before 2026.

ANALYSIS OF THE ISSUE

FREEZING TILL 2026

Seeing that a delimitation based on census data would create a political anomaly, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, through the 42nd Amendment of the Constitution in 1976, froze the process. Through the 84th Amendment, Prime Minister Vajpayee froze it again till 2026.

POPULATION-BASED DELIMITATION

The delimitation process gives such a population-based marking out or re-arrangement of constituencies as more MPs to the states and Union territories that have that more population.

PUNISHING SUCCESSFUL STATES

It was disproportionately punishing states that were successful in their implementation of the Family Policy initiatives. The inherent problem with this line of argumentation is that it fails to adequately weigh one aspect of State policy (that is, population control) along with denying the basic foundational principle of democracy, which is effective and proportional representation.

LACK OF PARAMETERS

There is a complex intersection of historical, economic and social contexts, there is a lack of parameters in which such policies are meant to be enforced particularly and need of sensitization or monitoring of supplementary policies. For instance, parameters such as  literacy and female education can lead to desired family size and population control.

SHADOWED POLITICAL INTERESTS

Some vested Political interest is to create north-south divide for political gains

NORTH SOUTH DIVIDE IN ELECTORAL REPRESENTATION

It is argued that the distribution of parliamentary constituencies in India favours populous states such as Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, while southern states like Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka have fewer seats. If Delimitation takes place, southern states will likely experience a reduction in the number of seats allocated to them compared to the northern states. Hence, when considering electoral representation, the quality of the people should be given more importance than just the number of people.

POLICYMAKERS NEED TO CONSIDER CHANGES

Delimitation has been frozen since 1976, and if it is carried out after 2031, policymakers will need to consider the demographic and political changes that have taken place in the country over the past 60 years.

Delimitation exercise that adds electoral value to one set of states while depleting representative value to another is, to use a phrase coined by Amartya Sen in another context, ‘valuationally gross’. It cannot but be seen as an unfair punishment where there should be a deserved reward.

ISSUES RELATED TO DELIMITATION

• North-South imbalance: It will potentially shift power away from the South towards the north and create a north south imbalance in electoral representation.
• Affect Representation of Women: The delimitation exercise is also going to deepen the representational disadvantage faced by women, because population-controlling states are also those where the women of India have played a decisive role in that achievement and where their role in the process of elections and representation has been critical.
• Affect Representation of SC/ST: It will also affect the allocation of seats reserved for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (SC/ST).
• Penalize better performing states: It could penalize better performing states in demography or economy as southern states by giving them lower representation.
• Impact voter’s right: It could affect individual voter’s rights as voters in southern states will automatically have less power than voters in northern states as there will be lesser representation of southern states.
• Impact electoral process: The process could harm the electoral process as cause vulnerability and affect the democratic and political fabric of a country due to partisan politics, vested interests, and the unchecked power of political parties that have the ability to dilute constitutional safeguards.

THE WAY FORWARD

• Finding alternatives: There are two alternative:
• This time freeze is not for any specific period but till such time as all states achieve population stabilisation.
• Demographic and statistical experts had devised a mathematical model along the lines of the ‘Cambridge Compromise’ based on a mathematically equitable ‘formula’ for the   apportionment of the seats of the European Parliament among the member states. Its recommendation can be considered as increasing the total number of seats in Parliament to ensure that no state loses the seats it already has.
• Population control: It has been suggested that improved awareness and better implementation of family planning programmes such as Mission Parivar Vikas have helped bring India’s overall fertility rate closer to replacement levels in northern states.
• Reap Demographic dividend: India must invest in health, nutrition, education, skilling and employability before the window of opportunity closes.
• Gradual acceptance for change: Gradual acceptance for change and lesser number of seats to give up or receive per state, The overarching theme that connects these observations is that one could argue that the ability to have been receptive to such changes through Delimitation may have been better accepted by political parties, voters and other related stakeholders through a phase-out mechanism.
• Better tracking and scrutiny of developmental indicators: There is a need for better tracking and scrutiny of developmental indicators, population control measures, and outcomes and rationale within the spaces of the Parliament and state legislatures.
• Devising an alternative formula: There is a need of devising an alternative formula taking into account the disparity created between the imposition on states to legislate and enforce population control mechanism, progress made retrospectively over the last 50 years, that is, between the 1971 and 2021 Censuses, along with their current position.

THE CONCLUSION: There is an immediate need for policy and legislative change in the most appropriate manner where Delimitation needs to be resumed with respect to extensive structural changes over the past 50 years. There is a need to tackle the electorate to lobby and preserve the constitutional sanctity and federal character of this country and must continue to enrich our legislative and parliamentary processes.

MAINS QUESTIONS

1. India is a federation where states are important political units of the union. However, the new delimitation exercise is creating north-south divide in electoral representation. Discuss.
2. Explain the Delimitation process and how it shaped Indian democracy and demography over the years.