In India, the general elections that began on 11 April 2019 were held to constitute which numbered Lok Sabha?

Introduction / Context:
The Lok Sabha is the lower house of the Parliament of India and is central to the functioning of the country's democratic system. Every few years, general elections are held across India to elect members to a new Lok Sabha. The 2019 Indian general election, which began on 11 April 2019 and continued in multiple phases, attracted considerable attention due to its scale, high voter turnout, and the fact that it was being conducted to constitute a new Lok Sabha. This question tests your awareness of basic Indian polity and recent political events by asking which numbered Lok Sabha was formed through the 2019 general election.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• General elections in India were held in 2019.
• The polling began on 11 April 2019.
• These elections were conducted to form a new Lok Sabha.
• Options mention 14th, 15th, 16th, and 17th Lok Sabha.
• We assume standard official numbering of the Lok Sabha as per the Constitution and Election Commission records.

Concept / Approach:
To answer this question, you must know the chronological numbering of the Lok Sabha in relation to election years. Each general election corresponds to the formation of a new Lok Sabha. For example, the 16th Lok Sabha was formed after the 2014 general elections. Therefore, the Lok Sabha formed after the subsequent general elections in 2019 would be the 17th Lok Sabha. Understanding this sequencing is important for examinations that test static as well as contemporary general knowledge.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the 16th Lok Sabha was formed following the 2014 Indian general election. Step 2: The next general election after 2014 was held in 2019, starting on 11 April 2019 and concluding in May 2019. Step 3: Every general election for the Lok Sabha leads to the formation of a new, sequentially numbered Lok Sabha. Step 4: Therefore, the Lok Sabha formed after the 2019 election is numbered immediately after the 16th, which is the 17th Lok Sabha. Step 5: Match this conclusion with the options provided: “17th Lok Sabha” is present as one of the choices.

Verification / Alternative check:
An alternative verification method is to consult reliable references such as government publications or Election Commission information, which clearly state that the members elected in the 2019 Indian general election formed the 17th Lok Sabha. Many standard GK books and competitive exam compilations also list: 15th Lok Sabha (2009), 16th Lok Sabha (2014), 17th Lok Sabha (2019). This confirms that the correct answer is indeed the 17th Lok Sabha.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
14th Lok Sabha: This corresponds to an earlier election cycle (2004), not the 2019 elections. 15th Lok Sabha: This was formed after the 2009 general elections, not the 2019 elections. 16th Lok Sabha: This was formed after the 2014 general elections and ended before the 2019 elections.

Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is to confuse the Lok Sabha number with the election year or with the term of the Prime Minister. Some students remember only the year 2019 and not its relation to the numbering of the Lok Sabha. Others may mistakenly think that 2019 still relates to the 16th Lok Sabha because that was the house in existence just before the election. It is important to remember that the numbering increments only after the new house is constituted following the election. Keeping a small list of Lok Sabha numbers with corresponding election years can help avoid such confusion in exams.

Final Answer:
The 2019 general elections in India, which began on 11 April 2019, were held to constitute the 17th Lok Sabha.