Match the LIST-I with LIST-II

Lok Sabha List I	Tenure List II
A. Rabi Ray	I. January 1985 – December 1989
B. Dr. Bal Ram Jakhar	II. December 1989 – July 1991
C. Shivraj Patil	III. July 1991 – May 1996
D. Meira Kumar	IV. June 2009 – June 2014

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Correct option is D

The correct answer is (d) (A-II, B-I, C-III, D-IV).

Detailed Solution
The question requires matching the Speakers of the Lok Sabha with their respective tenures. The Speaker of the Lok Sabha is the presiding officer of the lower house of the Parliament of India, and their tenure generally coincides with the life of the Lok Sabha.

Rabi Ray (A-II): He served as the Speaker during the 9th Lok Sabha from December 1989 to July 1991. He was the first Speaker to be elected to the post after the end of the long-standing Congress dominance in 1989.

Dr. Bal Ram Jakhar (B-I): He served as the Speaker for two consecutive terms (7th and 8th Lok Sabha). The period mentioned (January 1985 – December 1989) represents his second term during the Rajiv Gandhi government. He remains the only Speaker to have served two full terms.

Shivraj Patil (C-III): He presided over the 10th Lok Sabha from July 1991 to May 1996. This period was significant for the introduction of the Departmentally Related Standing Committee (DRSC) system in Parliament.

Meira Kumar (D-IV): She served as the Speaker during the 15th Lok Sabha from June 2009 to June 2014. She made history by becoming the first woman to hold the office of Speaker of the Lok Sabha.

Information Booster

The office of the Speaker is a position of high dignity and authority. Here are some key facts regarding the Speakership in India:

Constitutional Basis: Articles 93 to 96 of the Indian Constitution deal with the offices of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha.

Historical Facts: * G.V. Mavalankar was the first Speaker of the Lok Sabha (1952–1956).

Meira Kumar was the first female Speaker (2009–2014), followed by Sumitra Mahajan.

Powers of the Speaker:

Money Bills: The Speaker has the final power to certify whether a bill is a Money Bill or not (under Article 110).

Joint Sittings: The Speaker presides over the joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament (Article 108).

Casting Vote: The Speaker does not vote in the first instance but exercises a "casting vote" in case of a tie.

Anti-Defection Law: Under the 10th Schedule, the Speaker has the power to disqualify members on the grounds of defection (subject to judicial review).

Tenure Stability: Even after the Lok Sabha is dissolved, the Speaker does not vacate his office immediately; he remains in office until immediately before the first meeting of the newly elected Lok Sabha.