Part V · The Union · General
Article 81: Composition of the House of the People
Text of Article 81
(1) [Subject to the provisions of article 331 ***], the House of the People shall consist of—
(a) not more than [five hundred and thirty members] chosen by direct election from territorial constituencies in the States; and
(b) not more than [twenty members] to represent the Union territories, chosen in such manner as Parliament may by law provide.
(2) For the purposes of sub-clause (a) of clause (1),—
(a) there shall be allotted to each State a number of seats in the House of the People in such manner that the ratio between that number and the population of the State is, so far as practicable, the same for all States; and
(b) each State shall be divided into territorial constituencies in such manner that the ratio between the population of each constituency and the number of seats allotted to it is, so far as practicable, the same throughout the State:
[Provided that the provisions of sub-clause (a) of this clause shall not be applicable for the purpose of allotment of seats in the House of the People to any State so long as the population of that State does not exceed six millions.]
(3) In this article, the expression "population" means the population as ascertained at the last preceding census of which the relevant figures have been published:
[Provided that the reference in this clause to the last preceding census of which the relevant figures have been published shall, until the relevant figures for the first census taken after the year [2026] have been published, [be construed,—
(i) for the purposes of sub-clause (a) of clause (2) and the proviso to that clause, as a reference to the 1971 census; and
(ii) for the purposes of sub-clause (b) of clause (2) as a reference to the [2001] census.]]
Words in [square brackets] were inserted or substituted by later amendments (see below). Source: Legislative Department, Ministry of Law and Justice, Government of India
A plain-English explanation of Article 81, landmark judgments and exam facts are being added to this page.
Amendment history
Changed by: 7th Amendment Act, 1956, 31st Amendment Act, 1973, 35th Amendment Act, 1974, 36th Amendment Act, 1975, 42nd Amendment Act, 1976, 84th Amendment Act, 2001, 87th Amendment Act, 2003
- Subs. by s. 4, ibid. for arts. 81 and 82 (w.e.f. 1-11-1956).
- Subs. by the Constitution (Thirty-fifth Amendment) Act, 1974, s. 4, for "subject to the provisions of art. 331" (w.e.f. 1-3-1975).
- The words and figure "and para. 4 of the Tenth Schedule" omitted by the Constitution (Thirty-sixth Amendment) Act, 1975, s. 5 (w.e.f. 26-4-1975).
- Subs. by the Goa, Daman and Diu Reorganisation Act, 1987 (18 of 1987), s. 63, for "five hundred and twenty-five members" (w.e.f. 30-5-1987).
- Subs. by the Constitution (Thirty-first Amendment) Act, 1973, s. 2, for "twenty-five members" (w.e.f. 17-10-1973).
- Ins. by s. 2, ibid. (w.e.f. 17-10-1973).
- Added by the Constitution (Forty-second Amendment) Act, 1976, s. 15 (w.e.f. 3-1-1977).
- Subs. by the Constitution (Eighty-fourth Amendment) Act, 2001, s. 3, for "2000" (w.e.f. 21-2-2002).
- Subs. by s.3, ibid, for certain words (w.e.f. 21-2-2002).
- Subs. by the Constitution (Eighty-seventh Amendment) Act, 2003, s. 2, for "1991" (w.e.f. 22-6-2003).
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