According to the Eighty Fourth Constitutional Amendment, the total number of existing Lok Sabha seats based on the 1971 Census will remain frozen until after which year's Census is taken?

Introduction / Context:
This question relates to constitutional amendments dealing with representation in the Lok Sabha. Population based representation is usually revised after every Census through delimitation, but the Constitution of India has frozen the total number of seats for a defined period. The Eighty Fourth Amendment clarified how long the freeze based on the 1971 Census would last. Knowing the correct terminal year is important for understanding why current seat distribution does not yet reflect more recent population shifts.

Given Data / Assumptions:

The total number of existing Lok Sabha seats has been fixed using figures from the 1971 Census.
The Eighty Fourth Constitutional Amendment specifies a future Census after which changes may again be allowed.
Four possible terminal years are offered in the options, namely 2010, 2015, 2021 and 2026.
The task is to choose the year after which the first Census will permit fresh readjustment of seats.

Concept / Approach:
The approach is to recall both the Forty Second Amendment and subsequent amendments like the Eighty Fourth and Eighty Seventh, which extended the freeze. Originally the freeze on readjusting seats and constituencies was until the year 2000. Later amendments extended this period up to the first Census to be held after the year 2026. The intention was to give states that had succeeded in population control efforts a fair treatment in representation. Therefore, the key phrase to remember is after the year 2026, which directly answers the question when linked with the next Census.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Note that the question refers specifically to the Eighty Fourth Amendment Act and the freeze on Lok Sabha seats based on the 1971 Census. Step 2: Recall that the original freeze extended up to the year 2000 and that later amendments pushed this further into the future. Step 3: The Eighty Fourth Amendment, along with related provisions, clearly mentions that readjustment of seats will be possible only after the first Census conducted after the year 2026. Step 4: Interpret this correctly. It does not say that the freeze ends exactly in 2026, but that the relevant Census taken after 2026 will form the basis for the next delimitation. Step 5: Among the options, only 2026 matches the phrase after the year 2026 that appears in the constitutional text. Step 6: Select 2026 as the correct reference year connected with the future Census that will allow modification of the total seats.

Verification / Alternative check:
One way to verify is to think of contemporary debates about delimitation and regional representation. Policy discussions and exam oriented books repeatedly mention that the freeze on the number of seats in the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies continues up to the first Census after 2026. No major text suggests alternate cut off years like 2010 or 2015. Although a Census was scheduled around 2021, the amendment language attaches the condition to the year 2026, not to 2010 or 2015. This consistency in teaching material confirms that the correct answer from the options is 2026.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
2010: This year does not appear in the constitutional provisions regarding the freeze and is too early relative to the known policy of extension.
2015: Again, there is no amendment that links the end of the freeze to this year in the context of delimitation based on the 1971 Census.
2021: Although associated with a scheduled Census, the constitutional phrase refers to after the year 2026, not 2021, so this option is misleading.

Common Pitfalls:
A frequent error is to confuse separate amendments and remember only that the freeze was extended without internalising the exact reference year. Some learners also mix up Census years with amendment years, leading them to guess 2010 or 2021. Another pitfall is to assume that the freeze ends in 2026 itself, rather than understanding that it is the first Census after 2026 that actually allows change. Exam preparation should focus on linking each amendment number with its core content and key dates to avoid such confusion.

Final Answer:
Under the Eighty Fourth Amendment, the total number of existing Lok Sabha seats based on the 1971 Census remains frozen until readjustment after the Census taken following the year 2026.