Which of the following is recognised as a national party of India by the Election Commission of India?

Introduction / Context:
In Indian politics, the Election Commission of India (ECI) classifies political parties as national or state (regional) parties based on their performance in elections and vote share. Knowing which parties hold national status is a common requirement for civil services and other competitive examinations. This question asks you to identify which among the listed parties is recognised as a national party of India.

Given Data / Assumptions:

We are given:
- Names of various well-known Indian political parties.
- Only one of them is to be treated as a national party for the purpose of this question.
- We assume the recognition status as described in standard GK references covering recent updates.

Concept / Approach:
A national party is one that meets certain criteria laid down by the ECI, such as a specific percentage of votes or number of seats across multiple states. Over time, the list changes as parties gain or lose recognition. The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has been consistently recognised as a national party, whereas parties like Shiv Sena, Asom Gana Parishad, Shiromani Akali Dal, and Jammu & Kashmir National Conference are typically recognised as state or regional parties, not national parties.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall which parties are currently or historically recognised as national parties by the ECI.
Step 2: Note that BSP has had national party status in India, along with parties such as BJP, Congress, and some others.
Step 3: Recognise that Shiv Sena, Asom Gana Parishad, Shiromani Akali Dal, and J&K National Conference are based primarily in specific states and are generally classified as state parties.
Step 4: Therefore, identify 'Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP)' as the national party among the given options.
Step 5: Choose BSP as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
Lists of national parties published by the Election Commission and summarised in standard GK sources include BSP as one of the recognised national parties. The other options are most often described as regional or state parties with influence concentrated in particular states like Maharashtra, Assam, Punjab, or Jammu & Kashmir.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
- Shiv Sena: Primarily a Maharashtra-based party; historically classified as a state party, not a national party.
- Asom Gana Parishad: A regional party from Assam; it does not satisfy the criteria for national party status.
- Shiromani Akali Dal: A major party in Punjab, but recognised as a state party.
- Jammu & Kashmir National Conference: Dominant in Jammu & Kashmir, yet not recognised as a national party.

Common Pitfalls:
Students may think that high visibility or strong media coverage automatically means 'national party' status. In reality, the ECI uses technical criteria related to vote share and seats across multiple states. Another common mistake is to choose Shiv Sena or Shiromani Akali Dal, since they have played roles in national coalitions, but coalition participation does not equal national party recognition. Always rely on the official classification rather than perceived importance.

Final Answer:
Correct option: Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP)