Next Indian general election

Background

Summarize

Perspective

The tenure of the 18th Lok Sabha is scheduled to end in June 2029.^[1] The previous general elections were held in April–May–June 2024. After the election, the National Democratic Alliance, led by the Bharatiya Janata Party, formed the Union Government, with Narendra Modi continuing in his third term as Prime Minister.^[2]

Delimitation

The next Lok Sabha delimitation in India is due after the first census following the year 2026. According to the 84th Amendment to the Constitution of India, the current freeze on the delimitation of constituencies is set to continue until the results of the first census taken after the year 2026 are published.^[3]

Women's reservation

The introduction of women's reservation in the Lok Sabha is set to occur after the delimitation exercise based on the census following the year 2026. According to the 106th Amendment Act, 33% of the total seats will be directly allocated to women in the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies.^[4]

Schedule

Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar has indicated that the 2029 elections would be over by the end of April to prevent heat from affecting voter turnout. Until 2004, the general elections were conducted between the cooler months of December and March.^[5]

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Electoral system

MPs are elected from single-member constituencies using first-past-the-post voting.

Eligible voters must be Indian citizens, 18 years or older, an ordinary resident of the polling area of the constituency and registered to vote (name included in the electoral rolls), possess a valid voter identification card issued by the Election Commission of India or equivalent. Some people convicted of electoral or other offences are barred from voting.

Article 83 of the Constitution of India requires elections to the Lok Sabha be held once every five years.