Context: A Delimitation Commission will be set up for the Union Territory (UT) of Jammu and Kashmir and the northeastern states of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, and Nagaland. The order was issued by the Law Ministry.
Current Scenario

• The delimitation exercise on the basis of the 2001 Census figures was last completed on November 26, 2008.
• However, this exercise was postponed in certain states such as Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Nagaland as there was an apprehension of threat to peace and public order. 
• The Law Ministry said that The President is satisfied that the circumstances which led to the deferment of delimitation exercise do not exist now.
•  A significant improvement in the security situation, reduction in insurgency and improvement in the law and order situation has taken place in these states.
• Concerning J&K, The UT of Ladakh will not have its own legislature, on the other hand, J&K will. 
• The new state assembly shall have 114 seats (currently 107), out of which only 90 will be open for elections, and the remaining 24 will be shadow seats reserved for the areas of the erstwhile state that have been occupied by Pakistan (PoJK).
• After the bifurcation of J&K into two UTs, the need to redraw the Assembly constituency boundaries has been felt.

What is Delimitation and Why there is necessity to form Delimitation?

• Delimitation literally means the act or process of fixing limits or boundaries of territorial constituencies in a country to represent changes in population.To provide equal representation to equal segments of a population.On the Fair division of geographical areas so that one political party doesn’t have an advantage over others in an election.To follow the principle of “One Vote One Value”.

How delimitation is carried out?

• Under Article 82, the Parliament enacts a Delimitation Act after every Census.
• Under Article 170, States also get divided into territorial constituencies as per Delimitation Act after every Census.
• Once the Act is in force, the Union government sets up a Delimitation Commission.
• The first delimitation exercise was carried out by the President (with the help of the Election Commission) in 1950-51.The Delimitation Commission Act was enacted in 1952.
• Delimitation Commissions have been set up four times — 1952, 1963, 1973 and 2002 under the Acts of 1952, 1962, 1972 and 2002.There was no delimitation after the 1981 and 1991 Censuses.

About Delimitation Commission

• The Delimitation Commission is appointed by the President of India and works in collaboration with the Election Commission of India.
• Composition:Retired Supreme Court judge;Chief Election Commissioner;Respective State Election Commissioners

Functions

• To determine the number and boundaries of constituencies to make population of all constituencies nearly equal.
• To identify seats reserved for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, wherever their population is relatively large.
• In case of difference of opinion among members of the Commission, the opinion of the majority prevails.
• The Delimitation Commission in India is a high power body whose orders have the force of law and cannot be called in question before any court.