84th Amendment Act, 2001

The 84th Amendment Act, 2001 froze the total number of seats in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies based on the 1971 Census until after the first census to be taken after 2026. Its constitutional basis lies in the amendments made to Articles 81, 82, 170, and 330 of the Constitution.

The key provisions of the 84th Amendment Act, 2001 are: * Freezing the total number of seats in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies until after the first census after 2026. * Basing seat allocation on the 1971 Census. * Amending Article 81 relating to the composition of the Lok Sabha. * Amending Article 82 relating to the readjustment of seats after each census. * Amending Article 170 relating to the composition of State Legislative Assemblies.

The important articles related to the 84th Amendment Act, 2001 are Articles 81, 82, 170, and 330 of the Constitution. These articles deal with the composition of the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies, and the readjustment of seats after each census. Article 330 deals with reservation of seats for SC/ST.

In practice, the 84th Amendment Act, 2001 ensures that states that have successfully implemented population control measures are not penalized by a reduction in their political representation in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies. It maintains the status quo based on the 1971 Census until a new delimitation exercise is carried out after the 2026 Census.

The 84th Amendment Act, 2001 is significant because it addresses the concerns of states that had successfully implemented population control measures. By freezing the number of seats, it prevents these states from losing political representation to states with higher population growth. This promotes fairness and encourages states to participate in national population control programs.

A key challenge is the potential for a shift in political power from southern to northern states when the freeze on delimitation is lifted after the 2026 Census. This could lead to resentment and calls for further constitutional amendments to address regional imbalances.

The future of the 84th Amendment Act, 2001 depends on the decisions made after the 2026 Census. The freeze on delimitation will expire, and the government will need to decide how to readjust the seats in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies. This could involve extending the freeze, implementing a new formula for seat allocation, or allowing a full delimitation exercise based on the latest census data.

Frequently asked aspects include the reasons for the amendment, the articles amended (81, 82, 170, 330), the census year used for seat allocation (1971), and the implications for federalism and state representation. Questions often focus on the balance between population control and political representation.

A common misconception is that the 84th Amendment Act, 2001 permanently froze the number of seats in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies. In reality, the freeze is only until after the first census after 2026. Another misconception is that it only affects the Lok Sabha; it also affects State Legislative Assemblies.

Suggested reforms often revolve around developing a new formula for seat allocation that takes into account factors beyond just population, such as development indicators or economic contribution. Some suggest a gradual readjustment of seats to avoid a sudden shift in political power.

The 84th Amendment Act, 2001 amended Article 330, which deals with the reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) in the Lok Sabha. By freezing the total number of seats, the amendment also indirectly affects the number of reserved seats for SCs and STs, maintaining their proportion based on the 1971 Census until after the 2026 Census.

The 84th Amendment Act, 2001 was enacted to address concerns among states, particularly in the south, that had successfully implemented population control programs. These states feared losing political representation to states with higher population growth rates if seats were readjusted based on more recent census data. The amendment aimed to incentivize population control efforts without penalizing states for their success.