In independent India, the first general election to the Lok Sabha was held in which years?

Introduction / Context:
This question belongs to the topic of modern Indian history and polity, focusing on the first general election after India became independent. The first general elections laid the foundation of parliamentary democracy in India and were a massive logistical exercise. Knowing the correct years of this historic event is a common exam requirement for aspirants of competitive examinations.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• India became independent in August 1947 and became a republic in January 1950.
• The question asks for the years of the first general election to the Lok Sabha.
• Options cover different year ranges between the late 1940s and mid 1950s.

Concept / Approach:
The first general elections in India were held after the Constitution came into effect on 26 January 1950. The process of preparing electoral rolls and organising polling across a vast country took a significant amount of time. As a result, the first general elections to the Lok Sabha were conducted over several months between 1951 and 1952. This period is usually written as 1951–52 in textbooks and official histories.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that elections to the first Lok Sabha could not happen immediately in 1947 because the Constitution was still being drafted. Step 2: Remember that the Constitution came into force in 1950, making regular parliamentary elections possible. Step 3: Note that the first general election was a long, staggered process conducted during 1951 and 1952. Step 4: Compare this time frame with the options and identify 1951–52 as the match. Step 5: Select 1951–52 as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
If you recall that the first Lok Sabha sat in 1952, it is logical that the election must have been held close to that year. Therefore, 1947–48 and 1948–49 become unlikely because the Constitution was not yet in force and the electoral system was not fully established. The 1953–54 option also does not fit, because by then the first Lok Sabha had already been formed and was functioning.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A (1948–49) is incorrect because the Constitution had not yet come into force and the election machinery was not ready for a full general election.
Option B (1953–54) is wrong because the first general elections were already completed by that time and India already had a functioning Lok Sabha.
Option D (1947–48) is not correct because this was the immediate post independence period, with the Constituent Assembly still framing the Constitution and no provision yet in place for a nationwide general election under the new constitutional order.

Common Pitfalls:
A common error is to connect independence in 1947 directly with general elections and to guess that elections took place immediately. Another pitfall is to confuse the date when the Constitution came into force with the actual period of elections. Remembering that electoral preparation in a very large and newly independent country took time helps avoid these mistakes.

Final Answer:
The first general election to the Lok Sabha in independent India was held during 1951–52.