During which period were the first general elections of independent India to the Lok Sabha conducted on the basis of universal adult franchise?

Introduction / Context:
The first general elections in independent India marked a historic moment, as they implemented universal adult franchise on a massive scale for the first time. Conducted for the Lok Sabha and state legislatures, these elections laid the foundation for the country's democratic practice. Because of the size of the electorate and administrative challenges, the polling had to be spread over several months. This question asks in which period these first general elections took place, a piece of factual history that every serious civil services or competitive exam candidate should know.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The event is the first general election of independent India.
• The focus is on the period in which voting took place.
• Four two year ranges are given around the early nineteen fifties.
• The aspirant must recall the correct range that matches the actual election timeline.

Concept / Approach:
India adopted its Constitution in 1950 and needed to hold general elections soon afterward to elect the first Lok Sabha and new state assemblies. These first general elections were organised between late 1951 and early 1952. The process involved several phases to include remote areas. The year range therefore is remembered as 1951–52, and this period appears in nearly every history and polity text that discusses the birth of electoral democracy in India. The other ranges provided in the options do not match this known timeline.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Step 1: Recall that the Constitution came into effect on 26 January 1950, after which preparations for the first elections began. Step 2: Recognise that holding such a large scale election required time for creating electoral rolls, establishing polling stations, and training staff. Step 3: Remember that actual voting took place in multiple phases from late 1951 to early 1952. Step 4: Compare the options and see that only 1951–52 corresponds to this period. Step 5: Select 1951–52 as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
Verification is straightforward by consulting any textbook chapter titled first general elections or electoral system of India. The details nearly always mention that the first Lok Sabha elections were held during 1951–52. They also note the estimated number of voters, the grand scale, and sometimes mention leaders like Sukumar Sen, the first Chief Election Commissioner, who oversaw this process. Since this date range is widely and consistently recorded, using multiple sources to cross check will again yield 1951–52 as the correct period.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
1948–49: During this period, India was still in a transitional phase and had not yet adopted the Constitution or established the Election Commission for such nationwide polls. 1949–50: This period covers the adoption of the Constitution but is still too early for the completed electoral preparations. 1950–51: Although preparatory work intensified during these years, the polling itself extended into 1952, so this range is incomplete. Therefore, these ranges do not accurately represent the full period over which the first general election was actually held.

Common Pitfalls:
Some candidates wrongly associate the date with either the year of independence, 1947, or the year of constitutional adoption, 1950. Others remember 1952 as the date when the first Lok Sabha was constituted and mistakenly think that all voting occurred entirely within that year. To avoid these mistakes, aspirants should remember that the election spanned parts of two years, 1951 and 1952, due to the logistical scale. A simple mnemonic is that independence came in 1947, Constitution in 1950, and first elections in 1951–52, forming a clear chronological sequence.

Final Answer:
The first general elections of independent India to the Lok Sabha were conducted during the period 1951–52.