Hindi English Translation || Editorial || ​Tyranny of numbers: On States and the issue of delimitation

​Tyranny of numbers: On States and the issue of delimitation

Federal principles and democratic impulses (आवेग, प्रेरणा, इच्छा) are in conflict over delimitation (परिसीमन, सीमांकन)

The call (आह्वान, मांग, अनुरोध) at an all-party meeting chaired (अध्यक्षता करना, संचालन करना) by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, in Chennai on Wednesday (March 5, 2025), to freeze (limiting/restrict (something from taking place)) the strength of the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies for 30 years beyond 2026 might seem like pushing away a pressing (urgent, critical, crucial, serious, desparate, important, key, vital, high-priority, burning, essential) problem into the distant future. The challenges in 2056, when delimitation is eventually (अंततः, आखिरकार) taken up (फिर से शुरू करना, पुनरारंभ करना), could be far more (बहुत अधिक, कहीं ज्यादा) complex than those of the last exercise, conducted after the Delimitation Commission (परिसीमन आयोग) was set up in 2002. Even if the northern States bring down (reduce, lower, decrease, lessen) the fertility rate to replacement level by that time, the grouse (शिकायत, असंतोष) of the southern States, that seat share as a proportion (अनुपात, हिस्सा) of the total strength of the Lok Sabha will come down (reduce, lessen, decline, decrease), will still not find redress (निवारण, सुधार). Moreover (इसके अलावा, अतिरिक्त रूप से), the imbalance (असंतुलन, विषमता) in the number of electors across constituencies (the specific geographical area that is represented by each MP/MLA) varies in each State. Between 2004 (the last general election before the 2008 delimitation) and 2024, the country’s electorate (all the people in a country who are eligible to vote in an election) has grown by approximately 45%. In just over 15 years, there has been significant malapportionment (unfair distribution; uneven allocation; unequal allotment) in many constituencies. In Karnataka, Bangalore North has 3.2 million voters, while Udupi Chikmagalur, with an electorate of just under 1.6 million, has less than half that number. One solution, doubtless a partial one, could be to allow delimitation within each State, but not across the country. This would be in keeping with federal (संघीय, महासंघीय) principles but might be unfair to large States that have seen a huge, disproportionate (out of proportion to, relatively too large for, inordinate, excessive, immoderate, unbalanced, undue, unreasonable, unjustifiable, unfair) population jump over the last 50 years.

The concerns of the southern States regarding (concerning, with regard to, in respect of, with reference to, relating to) a potential (possible, likely, probable) unfair outcome (conclusion, development, result, aftermath, consequence, implication) are valid. There is a risk of losing significant representation (a membership of a legislature (parliament/congress/council/legislative assembly)) in the Lok Sabha if population strictly governs seat allocation. However, the Constitution recognises (acknowledge, accept, admit, allow, grant, uphold, validate) that apportionment (distribution, allocation, sharing) should be done “so far (until now, hitherto, up to the present) as practicable”, allowing room (scope, chance, opportunity, occasion, leeway) for considerations (thought, deliberation, reflection, analysis, review, discussion, inspection) beyond mere (just, only) numbers. Mr. Stalin has expressed apprehension (misgiving, doubt, qualm, fear, worry, concern, uneasiness) that if the 2026 Census (an official survey, particularly of a population) data is used as the basis for delimitation, and Tamil Nadu’s seat share is reduced, it would lead to (result in, cause, bring on, bring about, give rise to) “indelible (permanent, lasting, inerasable) injustice (unfairness, inequity, partiality, one-sidedness, discrimination)”. The all-party meeting rightly pointed out that Tamil Nadu is not opposed to delimitation per se (in itself, by itself, of itself, as such, intrinsically, in essence), but that the process should not penalise (punish, discipline, mete out punishment to) progressive (growing, developing, enterprising, dynamic, advanced, forward-thinking) States (the entire southern region). Since delimitation has remained a contentious (controversial, disputable, debatable) issue, the Union government should build a consensus (an idea or opinion that is shared by all the people in a group, agreement, concurrence, general opinion/view, common consent) on the terms of reference (scope of reference, field of reference; scope, limits, sweep, purview) for the next Delimitation Commission (committee, board, council, panel, advisory body). A transparent (open, candid, direct, straightforward, forthright; clear, obvious, explicit, unambiguous, unequivocal) and inclusive (comprehensive, all-encompassing, all-embracing, without exception, all-inclusive) approach can help restore the missing trust between the ruling party at the Centre and the non-BJP Opposition. Moreover, those advocating (support, back, promote, favour, endorse, uphold, champion, subscribe to) for an early delimitation should respect the Constitution’s federal character (nature, integrity, uprightness, reputation, standing, position) and demonstrate flexibility (changeability, openness, accommodation, cooperation, tolerance) in addressing (tackle, deal with, attend to, try to sort out) regional concerns (apprehension, worry, agitation, disquiet, distress, uneasiness).

Courtesy: The Hindu

Important Word List With Meaning

1.tyranny (noun)

Hindi Meaning - अत्याचार, अन्यायपूर्ण शासन
English Meaning - cruel and unfair use of power/control; oppression, suppression, repression, injustice, injustice; autocracy, dictatorship, monocracy, authoritarianism, totalitarianism, despotism.

2.delimitation (noun)

Hindi Meaning - परिसीमन, सीमांकन
English Meaning - the act of establishing limits or boundaries in a Treaty, Judgement or other Agreement. It literally means the act or process of fixing limits or boundaries of territorial constituencies in a country or a province having a legislative body.

3.federal (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - संघीय, महासंघीय
English Meaning - relating to a system of government in which establishments such as states or provinces share power with a national government.

4.impulse (noun)

Hindi Meaning - आवेग, प्रेरणा, इच्छा
English Meaning - urge, desire, need, drive

5.call (noun)

Hindi Meaning - आह्वान, मांग, अनुरोध
English Meaning - appeal, demand, request, plea.

6.chair (verb)

Hindi Meaning - अध्यक्षता करना, संचालन करना
English Meaning - head, conduct, preside over.

7.eventually (adverb)

Hindi Meaning - अंततः, आखिरकार
English Meaning - ultimately, finally, at last, in the end.

8.take up (phrasal verb)

Hindi Meaning - फिर से शुरू करना, पुनरारंभ करना
English Meaning - resume, recommence, restart, begin again.

9.far more (phrase)

Hindi Meaning - बहुत अधिक, कहीं ज्यादा
English Meaning - much more.

10.Delimitation Commission (noun)

Hindi Meaning - परिसीमन आयोग
English Meaning - In India, such Delimitation Commissions have been constituted 4 times - in 1952 under the Delimitation Commission Act, 1952, in 1963 under Delimitation Commission Act, 1962, in 1973 under Delimitation Act, 1972 and in 2002 under Delimitation Act, 2002. The Delimitation Commission in India is a high power body whose orders have the force of law and cannot be called in question before any court. These orders come into force on a date to be specified by the President of India in this behalf. The copies of its orders are laid before the House of the People and the State Legislative Assembly concerned, but no modifications are permissible therein by them.

11.grouse (noun)

Hindi Meaning - शिकायत, असंतोष
English Meaning - complaint, grumble, objection.

12.proportion (noun)

Hindi Meaning - अनुपात, हिस्सा
English Meaning - percentage, share, quota, part.

13.redress (noun)

Hindi Meaning - निवारण, सुधार
English Meaning - reparation, restitution; remedy (of complaints); reparation (for wrongs).

14.moreover (adverb)

Hindi Meaning - इसके अलावा, अतिरिक्त रूप से
English Meaning - in addition to, besides, additionally.

15.imbalance (noun)

Hindi Meaning - असंतुलन, विषमता
English Meaning - disparity, variation, disproportion, unevenness, lopsidedness.

16.demarcation (noun)

English Meaning - the physical marking of the boundary on the ground.

17.federalism/federal framework/system (noun)

English Meaning - a system of government in which establishments such as states or provinces share power with a national government.

18.freeze (verb)

English Meaning - limiting/restrict (something from taking place).

19.push away (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - postpone, push aside, fend, ward off, avert, keep off, avoid,

20.pressing (adjective)

English Meaning - urgent, critical, crucial, serious, desparate, important, key, vital, high-priority, burning, essential.

21.commission (noun)

English Meaning - committee, board, council, panel, advisory body.

22.set up (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - establish, create, start, begin, initiate.

23.bring down (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - reduce, lower, decrease, lessen.

24.total fertility rate (TFR) (noun)

English Meaning - the average number of children a woman would give birth to during her lifetime if she were to pass through her childbearing years (15-49 years) experiencing the present day age-specific fertility rates.

25.come down (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - reduce, lessen, decline, decrease.

26.constituency (noun)

English Meaning - the specific geographical area that is represented by each MP/MLA.

27.electorate (noun)

English Meaning - all the people in a country who are eligible to vote in an election.

28.malapportionment (noun)

English Meaning - unfair distribution; uneven allocation; unequal allotment.

29.in keeping with (phrase)

English Meaning - consistent with, in accordance with, in agreement with, in line with, compatible with.

30.disproportionate (adjective)

English Meaning - out of proportion to, relatively too large for, inordinate, excessive, immoderate, unbalanced, undue, unreasonable, unjustifiable, unfair.

31.regarding (preposition)

English Meaning - concerning, with regard to, in respect of, with reference to, relating to.

32.potential (adjective)

English Meaning - possible, likely, probable.

33.outcome (noun)

English Meaning - conclusion, development, result, aftermath, consequence, implication.

34.representation (noun)

English Meaning - a membership of a legislature (parliament/congress/council/legislative assembly).

35.(political) representation (noun)

English Meaning - the activity of making citizens’ voices, opinions, and perspectives “present” in public policy making processes.

36.constitution (noun)

English Meaning - body of law; system of rules; regulations, fundamental principles, charter.

37.The Constitution of India (noun)

English Meaning - India, also known as Bharat, is a Union of States. It is a Sovereign Socialist Secular Democratic Republic with a parliamentary system of government. The Republic is governed in terms of the Constitution of India which was adopted by the Constituent Assembly on 26th November, 1949 and came into force on 26th January, 1950.

38.recognise (Verb)

English Meaning - acknowledge, accept, admit, allow, grant, uphold, validate.

39.apportionment (noun)

English Meaning - distribution, allocation, sharing.

40.so far (phrase)

English Meaning - until now, hitherto, up to the present.

41.room (noun)

English Meaning - scope, chance, opportunity, occasion, leeway.

42.consideration (noun)

English Meaning - thought, deliberation, reflection, analysis, review, discussion, inspection.

43.mere (adjective)

English Meaning - just, only.

44.apprehension (noun)

English Meaning - misgiving, doubt, qualm, fear, worry, concern, uneasiness.

45.census (noun)

English Meaning - an official survey, particularly of a population.

46.lead to (verb)

English Meaning - result in, cause, bring on, bring about, give rise to.

47.indelible (adjective)

English Meaning - permanent, lasting, inerasable.

48.injustice (noun)

English Meaning - unfairness, inequity, partiality, one-sidedness, discrimination.

49.point out (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - indicate, mention, refer to, draw/call attention to, identify.

50.per se (phrase)

English Meaning - in itself, by itself, of itself, as such, intrinsically, in essence.

51.penalise (verb)

English Meaning - punish, discipline, mete out punishment to.

52.progressive (adjective)

English Meaning - growing, developing, enterprising, dynamic, advanced, forward-thinking.

53.contentious (adjective)

English Meaning - controversial, disputable, debatable.

54.consensus (noun)

English Meaning - an idea or opinion that is shared by all the people in a group, agreement, concurrence, general opinion/view, common consent.

55.terms of reference (noun)

English Meaning - scope of reference, field of reference; scope, limits, sweep, purview.

56.transparent (adjective)

English Meaning - open, candid, direct, straightforward, forthright; clear, obvious, explicit, unambiguous, unequivocal.

57.inclusive (adjective)

English Meaning - comprehensive, all-encompassing, all-embracing, without exception, all-inclusive.

58.advocate (verb)

English Meaning - support, back, promote, favour, endorse, uphold, champion, subscribe to.

59.character (noun)

English Meaning - nature, integrity, uprightness, reputation, standing, position.

60.flexibility (noun)

English Meaning - changeability, openness, accommodation, cooperation, tolerance.

61.address (verb)

English Meaning - tackle, deal with, attend to, try to sort out.

62.concern (noun)

English Meaning - apprehension, worry, agitation, disquiet, distress, uneasiness.