Question

Before the 31st Amendment, what was the number of maximum strength Lok Sabha?
A) 543
B) 552
C) 525
D) 520

Answer 1

Hint: The maximum strength of the Lok Sabha has been altered in the past by making amendments to the Indian Constitution. For example, Article 81 from the original constitution, set the maximum strength of the Lok Sabha at 500 members. Therefore, the first House had 497 members in the year 1952.

Complete answer:
Since 1952, the number of seats allocated to various states has been changed because of several delimitation exercises as well as the reorganization of states. Also, the total strength of the Lok Sabha has been changed due to the same reason.

According to Article 81 of the original Indian Constitution, the states were divided, grouped or formed into smaller entities called constituencies. It also ensured that there should be a minimum of one member for every 7.5 lakhs of the population and not more than one member for every 5 lakhs of the population which make up a constituency. The 2nd Constitutional amendment of 1952 modified these numbers to 8.5 lakhs and 6.5 lakhs respectively.

Later, by the 7th Constitutional amendment of 1956, Article 81 was revised since the states were reorganized and the country was divided into fourteen states and six Union territories.
In 1973, came the 31st constitutional amendment act, which increased the maximum number of seats in Lok Sabha from 500 to 525.

Thus, the correct answer is Option (C) 525.

Note: The allocation of seats to various states keeps on changing regularly with the addition or reduction of new and old states from time to time. Sometimes it changes the maximum strength of the Lok Sabha and sometimes it is left untouched. A delimitation took place in 2002 and tried to readjust the number of seats in the Lok Sabha, but it was unsuccessful due to the ‘freeze’ imposed in 2001.