On April 16, 2026, the Union Government introduced the Constitution (One Hundred and Thirty-First Amendment) Bill, 2026 in the Lok Sabha on the opening day of a three-day special sitting of the extended Budget session. The Bill, piloted by the Ministry of Law and Justice, seeks to amend Articles 81 and 82 of the Constitution and increase the maximum strength of the Lok Sabha from 550 to 850 members, with up to 815 seats from the States and up to 35 from the Union Territories. The amendment also seeks to delink the operationalisation of the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, 2023, which reserves one-third of seats for women in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies, from the post-2027 census delimitation by allowing immediate implementation based on the 2011 Census. Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Lok Sabha and described the moment as a defining one for democratic representation, assuring members that the proposed delimitation would not discriminate against any State and that the existing inter-State ratio of seats would be protected. The companion Delimitation Bill, 2026 and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026 were introduced alongside. The 131st Amendment Bill required a two-thirds majority of members present and voting under Article 368 and was put to vote on April 17, 2026, where it failed to secure the required threshold and was negatived. The Government subsequently withdrew the linked Bills.
Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill 2026 Introduced in Lok Sabha; Seeks to Expand House to 850 Seats and Operationalise Women's Reservation
On April 16, 2026, the Government introduced the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill in the Lok Sabha to raise the maximum House strength from 550 to 850 and operationalise women's reservation under the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, 2023, using the 2011 Census as the basis for delimitation.
Key facts
- Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026 was introduced in the Lok Sabha on April 16, 2026 by the Ministry of Law and Justice.
- The Bill proposes raising the maximum strength of the Lok Sabha from 550 to 850 members, with up to 815 from States and up to 35 from Union Territories.
- It seeks to delink the operationalisation of the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, 2023 from the post-2027 census delimitation by enabling implementation on the 2011 Census basis.
- The companion Delimitation Bill, 2026 and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026 were introduced on the same day.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Lok Sabha, assuring that delimitation would not alter the inter-State ratio of seats.
- The Bill required a two-thirds majority of members present and voting under Article 368 of the Constitution.
- On April 17, 2026, the Bill was negatived in the Lok Sabha after failing to secure the required two-thirds threshold, and the Government withdrew the linked Bills.
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Practice MCQ from this story
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Consider the following statements regarding the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026 introduced in the Lok Sabha on April 16, 2026: 1. The Bill proposes raising the maximum strength of the Lok Sabha from 550 to 850 members. 2. It enables operationalisation of women's reservation under the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, 2023 on the basis of the 2011 Census. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Both statements are correct. The Bill, as introduced in the Lok Sabha on April 16, 2026, raises the maximum Lok Sabha strength to 850 (with up to 815 from States and up to 35 from Union Territories) and enables women's reservation under the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, 2023 to be operationalised based on the 2011 Census, instead of the post-2027 census delimitation.
Source: PRS Legislative Research
Frequently asked questions
What is the maximum Lok Sabha strength proposed by the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026?
The Bill proposes raising the maximum strength of the Lok Sabha to 850 members, with up to 815 from States and up to 35 from Union Territories.
Which Census basis does the Bill use for the proposed delimitation and women's reservation?
The Bill enables delimitation and the operationalisation of one-third women's reservation on the basis of the 2011 Census, instead of waiting for the post-2027 census exercise.
Which constitutional articles are sought to be amended by the Bill?
Articles 81 and 82 of the Constitution of India, which deal with the composition of the Lok Sabha and re-adjustment of seats after each census, are sought to be amended.
What was the outcome of the vote on the Bill in the Lok Sabha?
On April 17, 2026, the Bill was negatived as it could not secure the two-thirds majority of members present and voting required under Article 368, and the Government withdrew the linked Bills.
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