Govt Proposes to Increase Seats in Lok Sabha to 850

A bill to "operationalise" 33 per cent reservation to women in Lok Sabha and state assemblies by increasing the strength of the lower house to up to 850 from the present 543 is set for introduction in Parliament on Thursday.

To redraw constituencies, the bill seeks to take into account the 2011 Census data. The bill seeks to amend Article 81 of the Constitution. It states that "The House of the People (Lok Sabha) shall consist of



not more than 815 members chosen by direct election from territorial constituencies in the states; and not more than 35 members to represent the Union territories, chosen in such manner as Parliament may by law provide.

" The expression "population", according to the bill, means the population as ascertained at such Census of which the relevant figures have been published. As of now figures of 2011 Census are available.