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Relevance: GS-II (Indian Constitution, Parliament Structure & Functioning, Anti-Defection Law) Source: Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs / Session Updates, 2026

1 · What is the news?

Ahead of the Parliament Monsoon Session, the government held a routine all-party meeting to discuss the legislative agenda. However, opposition parties staged a brief walkout!

Why? The government invited a breakaway faction of 20 rebel Trinamool Congress (TMC) MPs who claim to have merged with another party. The opposition objected, arguing that Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla had not yet officially recognized this merger and disqualification petitions against them were still pending. After making their point, 40 party leaders returned to demand urgent floor debates on critical national issues.

2 · Why is the 2/3rd Merger Rule Causing Friction?

Step 1: The Defection & Merger Claim
20 rebel TMC MPs broke away and claimed to have merged with the Tripura-based NCPI.
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Step 2: The Legal Rule (Tenth Schedule)
Under Paragraph 4, a merger is valid ONLY if at least 2/3rds of the legislature party agrees. Otherwise, MPs face disqualification!
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Step 3: The Opposition’s Objection
Since the Speaker hasn’t formally ruled on their disqualification or recognized the merger, inviting them as a separate block is legally contested.
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Step 4: Returning to Business (Floor Demands)
After staging a symbolic walkout, leaders returned to demand debates on NEET leaks, Manipur, and the upcoming Delimitation Bill.

3 · Core Parliamentary Issues at a Glance

Delimitation Dispute
Southern States’ Anxiety
Southern states fear that updating Lok Sabha seats based on current population will reduce their political representation, unfairly penalizing them for successfully controlling population growth!
Women’s Reservation
The 106th Amendment Link
The Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam (33% women’s quota) can only take effect after delimitation. Opposition parties want it implemented immediately within current house strength.
Governance Demands
NEET & Law and Order
Opposition pressed for urgent debates on exam paper leaks (NEET), the ongoing security situation in Manipur, and voter name deletions during intensive revision exercises.
Timetable Control
Business Advisory Committee
The Parliamentary Affairs Minister noted that priority bills will be decided by the Business Advisory Committee (BAC), which allocates time and regulates the daily schedule of the House.

UPSC Prelims Quick Facts: Constitutional Provisions
Article 82 Empowers Parliament to enact a Delimitation Act after every census to readjust seat allocation and territorial constituencies across states.
84th Amendment (2001) Extended the freeze on undertaking fresh delimitation of Lok Sabha constituencies up to the year 2026 to encourage state population control efforts.
Tenth Schedule (Para 4) A merger protects lawmakers from defection disqualification only if at least two-thirds (2/3) of the legislature party agrees to merge with another party.
106th Amendment (2023) Inserted Article 334A, mandating that 33% women’s reservation in Lok Sabha and Assemblies will commence only after the first post-Act delimitation exercise.

MCQ Practice Question
Q. With reference to the constitutional provisions regarding Parliamentary functioning and delimitation in India, consider the following statements:

  1. Under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution, a merger of a political party is legally protected from disqualification only if at least one-third of the members of the legislature party agree to the merger.
  2. The 84th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2001 froze the readjustment and allocation of seats in the Lok Sabha among states up to the year 2026.
  3. The Business Advisory Committee (BAC) of the Lok Sabha is chaired by the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only    (b) 2 only    (c) 2 and 3 only    (d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (b) 2 only

  • Statement 1 — Incorrect (the trap): Originally, the one-third split rule existed, but the 91st Amendment Act, 2003 abolished it! Today, under Paragraph 4, a merger is valid only if at least two-thirds (2/3) of the legislature party members agree.
  • Statement 2 — Correct: The 84th Amendment Act extended the freeze on Lok Sabha seat allocations until 2026 to reward states that successfully stabilized their populations.
  • Statement 3 — Incorrect: The Business Advisory Committee (BAC) of the Lok Sabha is always chaired ex-officio by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, not the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs!
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