Answer

The “one person, one vote” principle ensures equal voting power for every individual. However, balancing it with equitable representation across states with varying development levels and population growth poses a significant challenge in democratic systems. India, for instance, grapples with this issue, as states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, with larger populations, have more political influence, while less populous states face underrepresentation. Addressing this demographic divide requires a nuanced approach to electoral reform.

Enroll now for UPSC Online Course

Need for Equitable Representation Across States with Varying Development and Population Control

• Federal fairness: Equitable representation ensures federal harmony by recognising development and demographic variations, preserving the diversity integral to India’s democratic structure.
  For example: Southern states like Kerala and Tamil Nadu excel in population control but risk losing political influence in Parliament due to lower population ratios.
• Demographic equity: Balancing representation accounts for population control success, rewarding states with sustainable practices rather than penalising them with reduced political weight.
  For example: Andhra Pradesh’s fertility transition policies could inspire equity models instead of reducing its representation based on population metrics alone.
• Development incentivisation: Recognizing lower fertility as a marker of development prevents the disproportionate political influence of regions with higher population growth and slower progress.
  For example: Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, with higher population growth, should focus on developmental milestones rather than gaining seats solely due to larger population sizes.
• Regional balance: Representational equity fosters inclusive policies addressing regional disparities and ensures states with advanced socio-economic indices have a voice in national governance.
  For example: Southern states advocate equitable policies while promoting migration to balance demographic disparities in representation.
• Population-density focus: Political representation should consider population density alongside other metrics to ensure densely populated yet progressive regions don’t face political marginalisation.
  For example: Despite progress, Delhi and Tamil Nadu risk lower representation under a solely count-based approach.

Challenges of Balancing “One Person, One Vote” and Equitable Representation

• Federal imbalance: Strict adherence to population-based representation widens North-South divides, creating federal tensions and compromising collaborative policymaking.
• Penalising success: Population control success paradoxically leads to reduced political representation, discouraging progressive states from maintaining fertility reduction policies.
  For example: Andhra Pradesh is reconsidering pro-natal policies fearing parliamentary seat reduction due to fertility success.
• Overrepresentation risk: Larger population regions may dominate federal decision-making, leading to underrepresentation of states contributing significantly to India’s GDP and development.
• Development inertia: Disproportionate representation risks incentivising growth inertia, with higher fertility regions focusing on political gains over sustainable socio-economic advancements.
• Governance challenges: Unequal representation hampers efficient governance by skewing resource allocation and development focus toward regions with overrepresentation.
  For example: Allocating resources to overpopulated states leaves less for developed states like Kerala, impacting national progress.

Measures to Address the Demographic Divide in Political Representation

• Weighted representation: Allocating seats by factoring development indices like HDI, literacy, and fertility rates alongside population for balanced federal representation.
  For example: Germany’s federal system balances representation based on lander-specific attributes beyond population metrics.
• Migration promotion: Encouraging inter-state migration to balance demographic and developmental disparities, reducing reliance on fertility-based political adjustments.
  For example: Southern states promote skilled migration from northern regions, easing demographic imbalances.
• Constitutional amendments: Revising Article 82 to incorporate non-population criteria like per capita income and health outcomes into delimitation exercises.
  For example: The 15th Finance Commission recommended equity-based resource allocation models, adaptable for political representation.
• Incentive schemes: Reward states maintaining low fertility with special grants or governance privileges to uphold population control policies while addressing representational gaps.
• Multi-metric approach: Combine population density, fertility rates, economic contribution, and social indicators for a holistic seat allocation formula.
  For example: France’s electoral system adjusts representation using regional socio-economic indicators for equitable governance.

Check Out UPSC CSE Books From PW Store

To address the demographic divide in political representation, it is essential to introduce a dynamic representation model that accounts for both population and development indices. Future electoral reforms should include multi-dimensional criteria for representation, ensuring that states with slower population growth or higher development receive fairer representation. Additionally, promoting decentralised decision-making and empowering local governments will strengthen the principle of equitable representation across diverse states.

DOWNLOAD PDF