Article 81 of CoI : Article 81: Composition of the House of the People.

Explanation using Example

Example 1:

Imagine the state of Maharashtra, which has a population of approximately 112 million people according to the latest census. According to Article 81, Maharashtra will be allotted a certain number of seats in the House of the People (Lok Sabha) based on its population. Let's say Maharashtra is allotted 48 seats. These 48 seats will be distributed among various territorial constituencies within Maharashtra in such a way that each constituency has roughly the same population. This ensures fair representation of the people in the Lok Sabha.

Example 2:

Consider the Union Territory of Delhi, which has a population of around 19 million. According to Article 81, Delhi can have a maximum of 20 members representing it in the Lok Sabha. The exact number of seats and the manner in which these representatives are chosen will be determined by a law made by Parliament. For instance, if Parliament decides that Delhi will have 7 seats, these seats will be distributed among different constituencies within Delhi, ensuring that each constituency has a similar population size.

Example 3:

Assume the state of Sikkim, which has a population of less than 6 million. According to the proviso in Article 81, the rule that the number of seats should be proportional to the population does not apply to Sikkim. This means that Sikkim will be allotted a fixed number of seats in the Lok Sabha regardless of its population size. For example, Sikkim might be allotted 1 seat in the Lok Sabha, ensuring that it has representation despite its smaller population.

Example 4:

Let's take the scenario of the 2024 general elections. The population data used for determining the number of seats for each state will be based on the 1971 census for the purpose of sub-clause (a) of clause (2) and the 2001 census for the purpose of sub-clause (b) of clause (2). This means that even though more recent census data might be available, the allocation of seats will still refer to these older census figures until the relevant figures for the first census taken after 2026 are published.