{"id":381486,"date":"2026-04-18T14:30:53","date_gmt":"2026-04-18T09:00:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/?p=381486"},"modified":"2026-04-18T15:23:42","modified_gmt":"2026-04-18T09:53:42","slug":"union-territories-laws-amendment-bill-2026-delimitation-representation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2026\/04\/18\/union-territories-laws-amendment-bill-2026-delimitation-representation\/","title":{"rendered":"Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026: Changes to Delimitation, Representation and Women\u2019s Reservation in UT Legislatures"},"content":{"rendered":"
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On 16 April 2026, the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026<\/span> was introduced in Lok Sabha proposing to amend the Government of Union Territories Act, 1963<\/a><\/span>, the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act, 1991<\/a><\/span>, and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act, 2019<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n

Key Features:<\/h2>\n

The Bill proposes amendments that are largely consequential and enabling in nature, arising from the revised constitutional framework, and are intended to ensure consistency and effective implementation of the provisions relating to delimitation, representation and reservation in the Legislative Assemblies of Union territories.<\/p>\n

Proposed amendments in:<\/h2>\n
    \n
  1. \n

    Government of Union Territories Act, 1963<\/a>:<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. \n

      Earlier, the Act covered Legislative Assemblies and Councils of Ministers for certain Union Territories<\/span> and for certain other matters.
      <\/span>Now, the Amendment Act is proposed to focus on the Legislative Assembly and Council of Ministers for the Union territory of Puducherry.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

    2. \n

      The Amendment Bill also proposes to rename the Union Territory of “Pondicherry”<\/span> as “Puducherry”<\/span>.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

    3. \n

      Hence, this Bill suggests putting the focus from all the Union Territories to the Union Territory of Puducherry.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n

    4. \n

      Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act, 1991<\/a>:<\/p>\n

        \n
      1. \n

        The Bill proposes to revise the Legislative Assembly and its composition<\/span>:<\/p>\n

        Earlier<\/span>, the total number of seats in the Legislative Assembly was to be filled by persons chosen by direct election from territorial constituencies, which should be 70.<\/p>\n

        Now<\/span>, according to the Bill, the Legislative Assembly of the Capital will consist of such a number of members, which will be chosen by direct election from territorial constituencies in the Capital, as determined by the Delimitation Commission. The total number of members should not be less than 70.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

      2. \n

        The Bill also proposes to amend the Section 38<\/span> of the Act which deals with Election Commission to delimit constituencies<\/span>:<\/p>\n