Who among the following leaders served as the first Speaker of the Lok Sabha, the lower house of the Parliament of independent India?

Introduction / Context:
The office of the Speaker of the Lok Sabha is one of the most important positions in the Indian parliamentary system. The Speaker presides over the proceedings of the House, maintains order, and represents the Lok Sabha in its relations with the President and the Rajya Sabha. Knowing who served as the first Speaker after the adoption of the Constitution is a basic but significant fact in the study of Indian polity and political history.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question asks for the first Speaker of the Lok Sabha.
• Options include M. A. Ayyangar, N. Sanjiva Reddy, Ganesh Vasudev Mavalankar, and Sardar Hukam Singh.
• We assume this refers to the Lok Sabha constituted after the Constitution of India came into force on 26 January 1950.
• The focus is on identifying the correct person among these prominent parliamentary figures.

Concept / Approach:
Ganesh Vasudev Mavalankar is widely recognised as the first Speaker of the Lok Sabha. He had earlier served as Speaker of the Constituent Assembly (Legislative) and continued in a similar role when the provisional Parliament began functioning. After the first general elections of 1951 to 1952, he became the first Speaker of the newly formed Lok Sabha. Later Speakers included M. A. Ayyangar and Sardar Hukam Singh, and N. Sanjiva Reddy eventually served both as Speaker and as President of India, but none of them were the first Speaker.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the first general elections were held in 1951 to 1952, and the first Lok Sabha was constituted thereafter.Step 2: Identify the first person to serve as Speaker of this Lok Sabha, which was Ganesh Vasudev Mavalankar.Step 3: Remember that M. A. Ayyangar succeeded Mavalankar as Speaker.Step 4: Note that Sardar Hukam Singh served as Speaker later, and N. Sanjiva Reddy served as Speaker of the Lok Sabha many years afterwards and later became President.Step 5: Compare the options and select Ganesh Vasudev Mavalankar as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
Historical records of the Lok Sabha and official Parliament publications confirm that Ganesh Vasudev Mavalankar was the first Speaker of the Lok Sabha. Lists of Speakers on the official Parliament website start with his name in that position. Many Indian polity books also explicitly mention his name when outlining the early leadership of the Lok Sabha. These consistent references establish without doubt that he was the first Speaker and that the others in the options served later in the chronological sequence.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• M. A. Ayyangar: He served as Speaker of the Lok Sabha after Mavalankar and was therefore not the first.
• N. Sanjiva Reddy: He became Speaker in a later Lok Sabha and subsequently became President of India, but he was not the first Speaker.
• Sardar Hukam Singh: He is remembered as another important Speaker, but his tenure also came later, not at the beginning of the Lok Sabha era.

Common Pitfalls:
Because several early Speakers are frequently mentioned in exam materials, candidates sometimes mix up their order. Ayyangar and Hukam Singh are close in time to Mavalankar, and N. Sanjiva Reddy is known from later history as both Speaker and President, which can cause confusion. A helpful memory tip is to associate the initials G. V. Mavalankar with the idea of the very first Lok Sabha Speaker and to recall that Ayyangar followed him, not the other way around. This mental sequence helps avoid errors in questions about early parliamentary offices.

Final Answer:
The first Speaker of the Lok Sabha in independent India was Ganesh Vasudev Mavalankar.