UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Panel recommends targeted splitting of seats for next delimitation exercise

Q1. The working paper recommending a 'targeted splitting' approach for the next delimitation exercise, which proposes expanding the Lok Sabha to 824 seats, was released in 2026 by which one of the following bodies?

  • A. NITI Aayog
  • B. Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM)
  • C. Delimitation Commission of India
  • D. Election Commission of India

Q2. With reference to the EAC-PM working paper (June 2026) on delimitation and the Government's delimitation Bills introduced in April 2026, consider the following statements: 1. Both proposals envisaged increasing the total strength of the Lok Sabha to a figure above 800 seats. 2. Unlike the Government's April 2026 proposal, which was framed around proportional re-allocation based on census population, the EAC-PM paper bases its model on data from Lok Sabha elections 2009–2024. 3. The EAC-PM paper recommends applying a uniform proportional formula identical to the one used in the 2002 delimitation exercise. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Both proposals envisaged increasing the total strength of the Lok Sabha to a figure above 800 seats.
  2. Unlike the Government's April 2026 proposal, which was framed around proportional re-allocation based on census population, the EAC-PM paper bases its model on data from Lok Sabha elections 2009–2024.
  3. The EAC-PM paper recommends applying a uniform proportional formula identical to the one used in the 2002 delimitation exercise.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q3. As per the EAC-PM working paper (2026) on targeted delimitation, how many of the existing 543 Lok Sabha constituencies are recommended to be split to take the total Lok Sabha strength to 824?

  • A. 111
  • B. 170
  • C. 281
  • D. 543

Q4. Consider the following state-wise changes in Lok Sabha seats as illustrated in the EAC-PM (2026) targeted delimitation paper: 1. Tamil Nadu: 39 → 59 2. Karnataka: 28 → 42 3. Kerala: 20 → 35 4. Telangana: 17 → 26 Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. Tamil Nadu: 39 → 59
  2. Karnataka: 28 → 42
  3. Kerala: 20 → 35
  4. Telangana: 17 → 26
  • A. 1 and 3
  • B. 2 and 4
  • C. 1, 2 and 4
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q5. In the context of the EAC-PM working paper of 2026, the term 'targeted splitting' of constituencies refers to which one of the following?

  • A. A formula that splits only those Lok Sabha constituencies where restructuring is empirically shown to improve voter representation and turnout, rather than applying a uniform per-state proportional rule
  • B. A proposal to redraw constituency boundaries only in states that have achieved replacement-level fertility under the 84th Constitutional Amendment
  • C. Splitting constituencies strictly in proportion to each state's share of the 2011 Census population, while freezing seats of small states
  • D. Reserving the additional constituencies created by delimitation exclusively for women candidates under the 106th Constitutional Amendment