Constitution (131st Amendment), Delimitation and UT Laws Bills introduced in Lok Sabha after a 251â185 division
Three linked Bills, the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, the Delimitation Bill, 2026 and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026, were introduced in the Lok Sabha on 16 April 2026 after the motion for introduction was carried by 251 votes to 185 in a division.
Summary
Three linked Bills were introduced in the Lok Sabha on 16 April 2026: the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, the Delimitation Bill, 2026 and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026, according to PRS Legislative Research. The Hindu and The Hindu BusinessLine reported that the motion for introduction went to a division and was carried with 251 votes in favour and 185 against. According to PRS, the Delimitation Bill would empower the Centre to constitute a Delimitation Commission of a chairperson who is or has been a Supreme Court judge, the Chief Election Commissioner or an Election Commissioner nominated by the CEC, and the State Election Commissioner of the state concerned; it provides that the latest published census at the time the Commission is set up be used, which implies the 2011 Census. The UT Laws Bill would amend the Government of Union Territories Act, 1963, the Government of NCT of Delhi Act, 1991 and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, letting the Commission fix Assembly seats at not less than 30 in Puducherry, 70 in Delhi and 114 in Jammu and Kashmir. PRS notes the last Delimitation Commission was constituted in 2002 and its orders were finalised in 2008.
Key facts
- Introduced
- 16 April 2026, Lok Sabha
- Introduction vote
- 251 for, 185 against (The Hindu, BusinessLine)
- Delimitation Commission (proposed)
- SC judge (serving/former) as chair; CEC or EC nominated by CEC; State Election Commissioner
- Census basis
- Latest published census when Commission is set up, i.e. 2011 (PRS)
- UT Laws Bill
- Amends GUT Act 1963, GNCTD Act 1991, J&K Reorganisation Act 2019
- UT Assembly floors
- Puducherry 30, Delhi 70, J&K 114 (not less than)
- Last Delimitation Commission
- Constituted 2002; orders finalised 2008
Practice MCQs 4 questions
The motion to introduce the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026 in the Lok Sabha on 16 April 2026 was carried by what vote in the division?
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Correct answer: A â 251 to 185
The Hindu and BusinessLine report 251 in favour and 185 against at the introduction stage; 298â230 was the vote on passage on 17 April.
Under the Delimitation Bill, 2026 (as summarised by PRS), the proposed Delimitation Commission would consist of: 1. A chairperson who is or has been a Supreme Court judge 2. The Chief Election Commissioner or an Election Commissioner nominated by the CEC 3. The State Election Commissioner of the state concerned 4. The Speaker of the Lok Sabha Select the correct answer:
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Correct answer: D â 1, 2 and 3 only
PRS lists the chairperson (serving or former SC judge), the CEC or a nominated EC, and the State Election Commissioner; the Speaker is not a member.
The Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026 proposed that the Delimitation Commission fix the number of Assembly seats at not less than the existing number. Match the UT with that minimum: 1. Puducherry â 30 2. Delhi â 70 3. Jammu and Kashmir â 90 How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?
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Correct answer: B â Only two
Pairs 1 and 2 are correct. PRS gives the existing figure for Jammu and Kashmir under the 2019 Reorganisation Act as 114, not 90.
Consider the following statements, based on PRS Legislative Research's analysis of the Delimitation Bills of 2026: 1. The last Delimitation Commission was constituted in 2002 and its orders were finalised in 2008. 2. The Delimitation Bill, 2026 provided that the census to be used is the latest one published when the Commission is constituted, implying the 2011 Census. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C â Both 1 and 2
Both statements are correct as per PRS.