Which of the following statements are correct about general elections to the Lok Sabha?
1. Each Parliamentary Constituency will elect only one member.
2. Prior to 1962, there were both single-member and multi-member constituencies. These multi-member constituencies used to elect more than one member.
3. The first general election was held in India during 1951-1952.
4. The total strength of the Lok Sabha at the time of first general election was 543.
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Correct option is A

The correct answer is (a) Only 1, 2, and 3

Explanation:

1. Each Parliamentary Constituency will elect only one member. - Correct

• According to the current electoral system, India follows the first-past-the-post system, where each Lok Sabha constituency elects only one Member of Parliament (MP).

2. Prior to 1962, there were both single-member and multi-member constituencies. These multi-member constituencies used to elect more than one member. -Correct

• In the first and second general elections (1951–52 and 1957), multi-member constituencies were used in some areas to represent minority communities better.
• This practice was discontinued after 1962, and India adopted only single-member constituencies.

3. The first general election was held in India during 1951–1952.-Correct

• The first general elections were held between October 1951 and March 1952, which marked the beginning of electoral democracy in India.

4. The total strength of Lok Sabha at the time of first general election was 543.-Incorrect

• The Lok Sabha had 489 elected seats during the first general election (1951–52).
• The current strength of 543 elected seats (out of 545 total) was established much later.

Information Booster:

Lok Sabha – Key Facts

1. Composition

• Governed by Article 81 of the Constitution.
• Maximum strength: 550 members
• 530 members: Directly elected from states.
• 20 members: Represent Union Territories, as prescribed by Parliament.
• 104th Constitutional Amendment Act (2020): Abolished the nomination of 2 Anglo-Indian members to the Lok Sabha.

2. Duration & Dissolution

• Defined under Article 83(2).
• Normal tenure: 5 years from the first sitting.
• Can be dissolved earlier by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister.
• During a national emergency, the term can be extended by 1 year at a time, but not beyond 6 months after the emergency ends.

3. Qualifications of Members

• Under Article 84 and the Representation of the People Act, 1951:
• Must be a citizen of India.
• Minimum age: 25 years.
• Must be a registered voter in any parliamentary constituency.
• For reserved seats, the candidate must belong to the Scheduled Caste (SC) or Scheduled Tribe (ST) community.

• Multi-member Constituencies: These were abolished after the Representation of the People Act (Amendment) of 1961.
• First Lok Sabha had members from 489 constituencies across the newly independent India.