Process of Delimitation

Delimitation means the process of fixing the number of seats in each state and the boundaries of territorial constituencies for the Lok Sabha and the Legislative Assemblies.

It also includes the determination of reserved seats for Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) in these Houses.

This 'delimitation process' is carried out by the 'Delimitation Commission' which is established under an Act of Parliament.

Delimitation Commissions have been set up four times under the Acts of 1952, 1962, 1972 and 2002 - in the years 1952, 1963, 1973 and 2002.

The first delimitation exercise was carried out by the President (with the help of the Election Commission) in the year 1950-51.

Constitutional Provisions:

Under Article 82, Parliament makes a Delimitation Act after every census.

Under Article 170, states are divided into territorial constituencies after each census as per the Delimitation Act.

Why is delimitation important?

Representation:

Delimitation ensures fair representation in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies by adjusting the number of seats based on population changes.

This is important to maintain the democratic principle of "one citizen-one vote-one value".

Participation:

The purpose of delimitation is to ensure equitable distribution of seats among different regions by readjusting the boundaries of territorial constituencies to take into account population changes over time.This helps prevent under-representation or over-representation of specific regions.

Reservation of SC/ST seats:

Delimitation determines the allocation of reserved seats for Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) as per constitutional provisions, thereby ensuring adequate political representation for marginalised communities. Federalism:

Delimitation impacts federal principles by affecting the distribution of political power among states. A balance between population-based representation and federal considerations is necessary to maintain harmony among different regions.

Population control measures:

Historically, the aim of freezing the number of seats based on the 1971 census was to encourage population control measures. However, the impending delimitation process calls into question the effectiveness and implications of this policy in the context of changing demography.

What are the concerns surrounding delimitation?

Regional inequality:

There is a disparity in representation between the northern and southern parts of India in the Lok Sabha due to population as the deciding factor.

Delimitation based solely on population disregards the progress made in population control by the southern states and causes inequalities in the federal structure.

The southern states contribute 35% of the country's GDP despite having only 18% of the country's population.

Northern states do not prioritise population control and are expected to benefit in the delimitation process due to high population growth.

Inadequate funding:

The 15th Finance Commission has expressed concern about southern states losing funding and representation in Parliament after using the 2011 census as the basis for its recommendation.

Earlier, the 1971 census was used as the basis for funding and tax devolution recommendations for states.

Affecting SC/ST reservations:

The planned delimitation and reallocation of seats may not only result in loss of seats for southern states but also increase in power for political parties with their base in the north.

This could potentially shift power towards the north and away from the south.

The process will also affect the division of seats reserved for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (SC/ST) in each state (under Articles 330 and 332).

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Centre releases 15th Finance Commission grants for rural local bodies

The Central government has released the Fifteenth Finance Commission grants for the financial year 2024-25, providing crucial financial support to the rural local bodies (RLBs) of Bihar, Haryana and Sikkim. These funds are aimed at empowering Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs), improving local governance and meeting sector-specific needs. The grants include Untied Grants and Tied Grants, which will be used for essential services such as sanitation and water supply.

The grants have been distributed to the three states based on the eligibility criteria set by the Finance Commission—

Bihar has been allocated ₹821.8021 crore as the second instalment (Untied Grants). Also, ₹47.9339 crore from the first withheld instalment has also been released. This amount will be given to 38 district panchayats, 530 block panchayats and 8,052 gram panchayats.

Haryana has been allocated ₹202.4663 crore as the second installment. Apart from this, ₹7.5993 crore from the first withheld installment has also been released. This amount will be given to 18 district panchayats, 142 block panchayats and 6,195 gram panchayats.

Sikkim has been released the second installment of ₹6.2613 crore. This fund is earmarked for 4 district panchayats and 186 gram panchayats.

The central government confirmed the fulfillment of the conditions set by the Finance Commission by the states before releasing these grants.

Where will these grants be used?

Finance Commission grants are divided into two parts, which are aimed at carrying out development works—

Untied Grants:

This amount helps Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and Rural Local Bodies (RLBs) to meet area-specific development needs.

Can be used for local development works under the Eleventh Schedule.

Use of these funds for salaries or administrative expenses is prohibited.

Tied Grants:

These funds are used only for improving essential services, such as—

Maintaining sanitation and open defecation free (ODF) status:

The funds will be used for waste management, cleaning of human excreta and dirty water.

Drinking Water Supply:

Financial assistance will be provided to promote rainwater harvesting and water recycling.

Why is this financial assistance important for rural development?

Finance Commission grants play an important role in strengthening rural governance. These funds will:

Improve essential public services at the village level.

Strengthen decentralized governance system.

Help in timely implementation of development projects.

Through this grant, the Central Government is reiterating its commitment to empower rural local bodies of Bihar, Haryana and Sikkim and improve basic services.

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India and Argentina sign MoU for Lithium Exploration

Union Minister of Coal and Mines Shri G. Kishan Reddy held an important meeting with His Excellency Raul Alejandro, Governor of Catamarca Province, Argentina and senior officials of the Ministry of Mines, India in New Delhi. The objective of the meeting was to enhance cooperation in the mining sector, particularly to discuss lithium exploration and investment opportunities. The main achievement of the meeting was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Mineral Exploration and Consultancy Limited (MECL) and the Catamarca Provincial Government of Argentina. The agreement is considered to be a major step towards establishing deeper cooperation in the exploration and development of critical minerals including lithium.

Key Points

• Emphasis was placed on India’s growing participation in Argentina, which is part of the ‘Lithium Triangle’ and has large lithium reserves.
• Lithium is a critical resource for electric vehicle (EV) batteries and renewable energy storage, which is essential for India’s green energy transition.
• Indian companies such as Minerals Videsh India Limited (KABIL) and Greenko are actively engaged in lithium exploration in Catamarca, Argentina.
• The meeting discussed how the participation of Indian companies can be further increased, thereby strengthening India’s access to this critical resource.
• The meeting discussed opportunities for increasing investments, long-term supply agreements and joint ventures.
• This will be helpful in meeting India’s EV and renewable energy needs.
• Senior officials of both countries discussed the policy framework and regulatory aspects governing the partnership.

• Measures to promote sustainable mining and ensure environmental and social responsibility were also discussed.
• The meeting emphasized on the exchange of mining technology and best practices.
• Infrastructure support required to smoothly advance cooperation in the mining sector of Argentina was also discussed.
• This MoU reaffirms the strong ties between the two countries, especially to enhance cooperation in the field of critical minerals.
• This partnership will help accelerate lithium exploration projects, enhance resource security and also increase the cost of mining.
• New opportunities are expected to open up in the Latin American mining sector for Indian companies.

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India and Nepal strengthen scientific ties with new agreement

India and Nepal have taken a significant step towards further strengthening their scientific cooperation. A new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), India, and the Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) was signed on 18 February 2025 at the CSIR-National Physical Laboratory, New Delhi. The agreement aims to deepen research and technological cooperation in various fields such as biotechnology, environmental science, alternative energy and materials science.

How did India-Nepal scientific cooperation develop?

India and Nepal have a strong history of scientific partnership, which began in 1994 when CSIR and NAST first signed an agreement to promote joint research. Over the years, the two countries have organized training programmes, workshops, and research initiatives, strengthening cooperation in science and technology. The new agreement will serve to revitalize and expand this cooperation, promoting expertise, knowledge exchange and technological advancement.

Key areas of cooperation under the new agreement

The agreement covers several key areas of science and technology:

Research cooperation – India and Nepal will jointly undertake research projects in biosciences, food science and technology, alternative energy, drug research and environmental technologies.

Exchange programmes – Scientists and researchers from both countries will get an opportunity to visit each other’s institutions and share resources.

Workshops and training – Seminars and capacity building programmes will be organised to promote innovation and skill development.

Technological access – Research facilities and scientific infrastructure will be shared, thereby promoting cooperation.

Institutional partnerships – Joint scientific development initiatives will be undertaken by linking universities and research institutions.

What is the response of the leaders on this cooperation?

Dr. N. Kalaiselvi, Director General of CSIR, emphasized that India is committed to strengthen its technological partnership with Nepal and will ensure that scientific cooperation is implemented effectively. He stressed the need for a well-planned action plan to utilize the full potential of this partnership.

Professor Dr. Dilip Subba, Vice-Chancellor of NAST, reiterated Nepal's commitment to enhance scientific collaboration. He suggested that subject-expert working groups be formed to ensure a focused and productive partnership.

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Land Survey Project: 'NAKSHA'

Union Minister for Rural Development and Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan inaugurated the National Geospatial Knowledge Based Urban Land Survey (NAKSHA) Pilot Programme in Raisen, Madhya Pradesh on 18 February 2025.

The initiative is being operated by the Department of Land Resources and will be implemented in 152 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) in 26 states and 3 Union Territories across the country. The ₹194 crore project is fully funded by the Central Government, which aims to modernize urban land survey, increase the accuracy of land records, strengthen urban planning and reduce land disputes.

Objectives and Functions of NAKSHA Program

Modernize urban land survey processes.

Help in better urban planning by updating land records.

Reduce land disputes and increase transparency.

Will be implemented in 26 states and 3 union territories in 152 ULBs.

Technical Implementation

Survey of India technical partner.

Aerial survey and preparation of orthorectified imagery.

Development of web-GIS platform by Madhya Pradesh State Electronic Development Corporation (MPSEDC).

National Informatics Centre Service Corporation (NICSI) will manage data storage.

State and Union Territory Governments will conduct field surveys and ground truthing.

Total cost: ₹194 crore

Fully funded by the Central Government

NAKSHA program is an important step towards giving a new dimension to India's land management, urban planning and transparent land record system.

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‘nPROUD’ (New Programme for Removal of Unused Drugs)

Unscientific disposal of expired and unused drugs is a serious problem.

Kerala is going to become the first state in India to scientifically collect and dispose of expired and unused drugs domestically. The Kerala Drugs Control Department will officially launch the ‘nPROUD’ (New Programme for Removal of Unused Drugs) initiative on 22 February 2025. This government project has been launched to address the growing problem of pharmaceutical waste, thereby reducing environmental hazards and health risks.

Why is safe disposal of drugs needed?

Unscientific disposal of expired and unused drugs is a serious problem. Most people throw medicines in household waste or flush them down drains, causing traces of the drug to enter soil and water sources. This pollution can lead to increased antimicrobial resistance (AMR), making infections harder to treat and increasing health risks.

The nPROUD initiative seeks to establish a structured system to address this problem.

nPROUD initiative will be implemented to ensure scientific and safe disposal of pharmaceutical waste. It will function in accordance with the Bio-Medical Waste Management Act and Rules to prevent environmental pollution.

How will the nPROUD initiative work?

The programme will be launched first in Kozhikode Corporation and Ulliyeri Panchayat (Kozhikode district), then it will be expanded across the state. It will be conducted in three phases:

Door to door collection: Officials will collect unused medicines by visiting door to door at scheduled times.

Permanent collection centres: Special blue coloured dustbins will be installed at public places where people can safely dump their unused medicines.

Coordination with local bodies: Haritha Karma Sena (Green Task Force) and local self-government bodies will play a key role in managing the collection process.

The collected medicines will be sent to Kerala Enviro Infrastructure Limited (KEIL), a waste treatment facility approved by the state and central environmental authorities. This initiative will ensure compliance with legal waste management standards, as well as protect public health.

What is the inspiration behind this initiative?

The nPROUD initiative is based on a pilot project ‘PROUD’ (Programme on Removal of Unused Drugs) launched in Thiruvananthapuram in 2021. Under this pilot project, 21 tonnes of unused drugs were successfully collected and destroyed. Given its success, the Kerala government decided to implement it across the state and develop it in a more structured and comprehensive form.

Kerala Health Minister Veena George underlined the importance of the project, saying that improper disposal of unused drugs is a major threat to the environment and health. She also pointed out that the nPROUD initiative is a proactive step towards a sustainable waste management system, which will reduce pollution and health risks caused by drugs.

This initiative sets a role model for other Indian states, which could pave the way for a national policy towards addressing the problem of pharmaceutical waste. If implemented correctly, Kerala's effort could make India a global leader in sustainable healthcare waste management.

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