Question

In which year the first Indian general election for the Lok Sabha was held?
A) 1948-49
B) 1949-50
C) 1950-51
D) 1951-52

Answer 1

Hint: The first Indian general election of Lok Sabha was held on 1951-52 from 25 October 1951 to 21 February 1952. It was the first election to the Lok Sabha since India became independent in August 1947.It was conducted under the provisions of the Indian Constitution, which was adopted on 26 November 1949.

Complete answer:
In 1951 the first Indian Lok Sabha election was held. Correct answer is (D).
At the time of the first Lok Sabha election in 1951-52, 85 percent of the people were illiterate. In the population of about 40crore, only 15 per cent knew how to read and write in one language. Printing names of the candidates and the parties contesting election could not have elicited the preferred voting choice for the voters.

The Election Commission under Sukumar Sen decided to print symbols to represent political parties, whose candidates would stand in the election. The Congress, under Jawaharlal Nehru’s leadership, got the election symbol of a pair of oxen carrying a yoke’.

Election to the first Lok Sabha was held in as many as 68 phases over four months. The first Indians to cast their votes in the Lok Sabha election were Buddhists living in the Chini Tehsil (now Kinnaur district) of Himachal Pradesh. The election was held here on October 25, 1951 to avoid winter snowfall.

The rest of India voted in January and February next year based on the electoral rolls printed on 3,80,000 reams of papers. The cost of the first Lok Sabha election per voter was 60 paise. It is estimated to be Rs 72 in 2019 Lok Sabha election.
Around 20lakh ballot boxes were used to store the votes cast on ballot papers. The ballot boxes were made bullet proof to ensure security and safety of the first democratic exercise. An estimated 8,200 tonnes of steel was used in making those boxes.

Representation of The People Act,1951
The Representation of the People Act, 1950 did not contain all the provisions related to elections but the merely provided for allocation of seats in and the delimitation of constituencies for the purpose of the elections of the House of People and Legislature of the States, the qualification of the voter at such election and preparations of electoral rolls.
The provisions for the actual conduct of elections of the House of Parliament and to the House or Houses of the Legislature of each State, the qualification and disqualification for the membership of these Houses, the corrupt practices and election offences, and the decision of election dispute were all left to be made in a subsequent measure. In order to provide for these provisions, the Representation of the People Act, 1951 was enacted.
This Act contains provision relating to the following electron matters:
1) Qualification and disqualification for membership of parliament and state legislature
2) Notification of general election
3) Administrative machinery for the conduct of elections
4) Registration of political parties
5) Conduct of election
6) Dispute regarding election
7) Free supply of certain material to candidate of recognised political parties
8) Corrupt practices of electron offences

Voter List:
Once the constituencies are decided, the next step is to decide who can and who cannot vote. This decision cannot be left to anyone till the last day. In a democratic election, the list of those who are eligible to vote is prepared much before the election and given to everyone. This list is officially called the Electoral Roll and is commonly known as the Voters’ List.
This is an important step for it is linked to the first condition of a democratic election: everyone should get an equal opportunity to choose representatives.

Note:
The Congress won 364 of 489 Lok Sabha seats and Nehru became the first prime minister of India.
His party clearly beat rivals by winning 75.99% (47,665,951) of the votes cast.
The Speaker of the first Lok Sabha was Shri G.V. Mavalankar. The first Lok Sabha also witnessed 677 sittings (3,784 hours), the highest recorded count of the number of sittings. The Lok Sabha lasted its full term from April 17, 1952 to April 4, 1957.