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UPSC Prelims 2023 · Polity · Elections, Parties & Anti-defection
How many Delimitation Commissions have been constituted by the Government of India till December 2023?
- (a) One
- (b) Two
- (c) Three
- (d) Four
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: (d) Four
1952, 1963, 1973 and 2002 — four Delimitation Commissions under Delimitation Acts.
The idea
The number of seats per State has been frozen at the 1971 census (42nd Amendment, extended by the 84th in 2001) until the first census after 2026. The 2002 Commission redrew boundaries within that freeze using the 2001 census. Its orders cannot be challenged in court.
1952 → 1963 → 1973 → 2002 (Kuldip Singh) → seat freeze till first census after 2026
Why the others are wrong
(a) There was one after every census from 1951 to 1971, and one more after 2001.
(b) Too few: 1952, 1963 and 1973 already make three.
(c) Misses the 2002 Commission (Justice Kuldip Singh).
The trap
People assume a commission follows every census. None followed 1981 or 1991, because seats were frozen.
🔒 Delimitation Commissions: 1952, 1963, 1973, 2002 = four · seats frozen on the 1971 census till after 2026 · orders final, not justiciable.
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