Question map
How many Delimitation Commissions have been constituted by the Government of India till December 2023 ?
Explanation
The present Delimitation Commission was constituted by the Government[1] of India in exercise of powers conferred by Section 3 of Delimitation Act, 2002.[1] This refers to the fourth and most recent Delimitation Commission.
Historically, India has constituted four Delimitation Commissions in total: the first was set up in 1952 under the Delimitation Commission Act, 1952; the second in 1963 under the Delimitation Commission Act, 1962; the third in 1973 under the Delimitation Act, 1972; and the fourth in 2002 under the Delimitation Act, 2002. Each commission was tasked with redrawing parliamentary and assembly constituencies based on census data to ensure fair representation. Therefore, by December 2023, four Delimitation Commissions have been constituted, making option D the correct answer.
Sources- [1] https://www.eci.gov.in/Documents/Delimitation/DelimitedLandscapeOfUnionTerritoryOfJammuKashmir.pdf
PROVENANCE & STUDY PATTERN
Guest previewThis is a classic 'Sitter' from the static portion of Laxmikanth (Chapter 71). It tests the historical timeline of electoral bodies rather than just their powers. If you skipped the 'History/Background' paragraph or the table listing the commissions, you lost 2 easy marks.
This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.
Explicit heading refers to the 'FOURTH DELIMITATION COMMISSION' and mentions 'Table 71.1 Delimitation Commissions constituted so far', indicating there have been multiple (at least four) commissions and that a list/table exists.
A student could use the book's Table 71.1 (or other authoritative lists) and external historical dates to enumerate each commission and confirm the total number.
Defines the Delimitation Commission as an independent body 'appointed by the President of India', clarifying who constitutes it and that such appointments are discrete events.
Use this rule (President appointment) to search official notifications/Presidential orders for each commission to compile the list and count.
Describes the Commission submitting recommendations in 2007 and a Presidential notification in 2008, showing a concrete instance of a delimitation commission's activity (the commission active around 2007–2008).
A student can place this commission in time (likely the fourth) and then look for earlier similar commission activities to build a chronological list.
Notes administrative actions in 2021–2022 (removing states from Commission's purview, extending term to 2022), showing the commission that produced orders as late as May 2022 was a continuing body—useful for identifying the most recent commission's timeframe.
From these dates one can infer the latest active commission and then check for prior commissions to determine the total up to Dec 2023.
Records a final order in May 2022 for delimitation in J&K by 'the Commission', giving another dated event linked to the same delimitation body and confirming recent activity.
Combine this date with the 'fourth commission' clue to situate commissions historically and then seek earlier commissions (e.g., via official records or the referenced table) to enumerate all.
This tab shows concrete study steps: what to underline in books, how to map current affairs, and how to prepare for similar questions.
Login with Google to unlock study guidance.
Discover the small, exam-centric ideas hidden in this question and where they appear in your books and notes.
Login with Google to unlock micro-concepts.
Access hidden traps, elimination shortcuts, and Mains connections that give you an edge on every question.
Login with Google to unlock The Vault.