In the Lok Sabha of India, what minimum number of members (quorum) must be present for the House to be able to hold a valid sitting and transact business?

Introduction / Context:
The Indian Parliament follows clear constitutional and rule based provisions regarding how many members must be present for a sitting of the Lok Sabha to be valid. This minimum required presence is known as the quorum. Understanding the idea of quorum is important because it shows how Parliament balances continuity of work with the practical reality that all members are not present at every moment. This question tests your knowledge of the specific quorum requirement for the Lok Sabha under the Constitution and the Rules of Procedure.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question is about the Lok Sabha, the lower house of the Indian Parliament.
• It asks for the minimum number or proportion of members required to hold a valid sitting.
• Options include different fractions and a fixed number of members.
• We assume the House is functioning under normal conditions and that its total membership is as defined in law at that time.

Concept / Approach:
The concept of quorum ensures that a small handful of members cannot conduct business and pass decisions in the absence of a reasonable presence of the House. Article 100 of the Constitution of India allows Parliament to fix its own quorum, and the Rules of Procedure of the Lok Sabha provide that the quorum shall be one tenth of the total number of members of the House, including the presiding officer. If at any time there is no quorum, it is the duty of the presiding officer to either adjourn the House or suspend the sitting until there is a quorum.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that quorum refers to the minimum number of members who must be present to validate the proceedings of a legislative body.Step 2: For the Lok Sabha, the quorum is specified in its Rules of Procedure rather than as a fixed number in the Constitution.Step 3: The rule clearly states that one tenth of the total membership of the House constitutes the quorum.Step 4: Compare each option with this rule. One fourth, fifty per cent, or a fixed minimum of 100 members do not match the one tenth requirement.Step 5: Conclude that the correct option is one tenth of the total membership of the House.

Verification / Alternative check:
A simple way to verify is to apply the one tenth rule to a notional full strength of 545 members. One tenth of 545 is 54.5, which means that at least 55 members including the presiding officer would be needed. This figure is often mentioned in exam preparation material when explaining quorum. In contrast, a requirement of one fourth or fifty per cent would be much higher and would make daily functioning difficult. No authoritative source mentions a fixed minimum like 100 members for quorum in the Lok Sabha.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• One-fourth of the total membership of the House: This is a larger fraction than the actual requirement and does not match the Rules of Procedure.
• Fifty per cent of the total strength of the Lok Sabha: A simple majority presence is not required for quorum; this is much higher than what the rules prescribe.
• At least 100 members present in the House: Quorum is defined as a fraction, not a fixed number such as 100, so this option is not correct.

Common Pitfalls:
Many learners confuse quorum with the requirement for passing ordinary bills, which often needs a simple majority of those present and voting, not of the entire House. Another frequent error is to assume that a large number is needed for legitimacy, such as one fourth or half membership. It is better to memorise the specific fraction of one tenth for both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha and remember that this is a minimum presence rule, not a voting requirement.

Final Answer:
The Lok Sabha requires a quorum of one tenth of the total membership of the House to hold a valid sitting and transact business.