Union Territories Bill sets minimum 30 seats for Puducherry Assembly

It ensures that the number of seats and constituency boundaries are determined by the Delimitation Commission based on census data chosen by Parliament.

Who it concerns: The Bill affects the Legislative Assemblies and Councils of Ministers of the Union Territories of Puducherry, Delhi, and Jammu and Kashmir. It also impacts the Delimitation Commission and the Central Government regarding the appointment of dates for these changes to take effect.

What the bill does

• The total number of members in the Legislative Assemblies of Puducherry, Delhi, and Jammu and Kashmir will be determined by the Delimitation Commission, subject to minimum limits (30 for Puducherry, 70 for Delhi, and 114 for Jammu and Kashmir).
• The readjustment of Assembly and Parliamentary constituencies will be determined by the Delimitation Commission under applicable delimitation laws.
• Reservation of seats for women in these Legislative Assemblies will apply in the manner provided by the applicable delimitation law and Article 334A of the Constitution.
• The number of nominated members in the Assemblies of Puducherry and Jammu and Kashmir will increase to five and three respectively, but only after the readjustment of constituencies takes effect.
• Several obsolete sections and schedules related to previous delimitation arrangements in the three Acts are omitted.
• The Bill comes into force on a date appointed by the Central Government via notification in the Official Gazette.

Also in the document

• The Bill is described as largely consequential and enabling, intended to harmonize existing statutory provisions with the revised constitutional scheme from the 106th and 131st Constitutional Amendments.
• It explicitly states that the amendments do not involve any independent policy departure.
• The Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha on April 10, 2026.