How many Lok Sabha (House of the People) parliamentary seats are allocated to the State of Kerala under the present distribution of seats?

Introduction / Context:
The Lok Sabha is the directly elected lower house of the Parliament of India. Each State and certain Union Territories are allotted a fixed number of Lok Sabha seats based on their population and other considerations, subject to constitutional limits. Knowing the number of seats a particular State has is a common topic in Indian polity and general knowledge exams. This question focuses on the State of Kerala.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- The question is about Lok Sabha parliamentary seats, not Rajya Sabha seats.- The State in question is Kerala.- The options are 2, 13, 20 and 25 seats.

Concept / Approach:
The allocation of Lok Sabha seats to States has been fixed for several decades based on earlier census data, and a freeze on changing this number has been maintained to encourage population control efforts. Kerala, a southern coastal State, has a specific number of constituencies from which Members of Parliament are elected to the Lok Sabha. The correct number for Kerala is 20, which is widely mentioned in election data and standard polity references.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Kerala is a medium sized State in terms of population compared to very large States like Uttar Pradesh, which has 80 Lok Sabha seats.Step 2: Remember that Kerala has 20 parliamentary constituencies for Lok Sabha elections; this number appears repeatedly in election coverage and statistical handbooks.Step 3: Option A (2) is far too small for a State the size of Kerala and typically corresponds to smaller Union Territories.Step 4: Option B (13) and Option D (25) are close enough to cause confusion but do not match the officially notified number of constituencies for Kerala.Step 5: Therefore, the correct answer is 20 Lok Sabha seats for Kerala.

Verification / Alternative check:
A practical verification method is to recall well known lists of Lok Sabha seats by State, where it is standard that Kerala has 20 and neighbouring Tamil Nadu has 39 seats. These figures are often highlighted during general elections when news channels show State wise seat distribution.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A (2) is wrong because it severely underestimates Kerala's representation and is more suitable for a small Union Territory, not a full State.Option B (13) is wrong because this number is associated with representation from other States or is simply a distractor here.Option D (25) is wrong because it is higher than the actual allocation and does not match official data.

Common Pitfalls:
Students may confuse the number of Lok Sabha seats of Kerala with those of neighbouring States or may mix up figures for Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha representation. Another mistake is simply guessing among the middle values when not sure. To avoid these issues, it helps to revise a concise table of seat allocations for major States before examinations, paying attention to States that frequently appear in questions such as Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

Final Answer:
Correct answer: 20