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

Introduction / Context:
For the Lok Sabha, each State and certain Union Territories are allocated a fixed number of constituencies. These seat numbers are important facts in Indian polity and electoral studies, and questions frequently ask about the number of seats for specific States. Here, the focus is on the State of Punjab, a north western State with a significant political history.

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

Concept / Approach:
Punjab has a fixed number of Lok Sabha constituencies from which its Members of Parliament are directly elected. The seat allocation has been stable for several years under the freeze on changes relating to population. The correct number of Lok Sabha seats for Punjab is 13, which is a commonly cited figure in election reporting and exam preparation material.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Punjab is smaller in population and area than many large States such as Uttar Pradesh but still has a moderate level of representation.Step 2: The State has 13 Lok Sabha constituencies, from each of which one Member is elected.Step 3: Option A (2) is clearly too low for a full State and is more typical for smaller Union Territories.Step 4: Option C (20) and Option D (25) correspond to larger States or are distractors, not matching Punjab's official allocation.Step 5: Therefore, 13 is the correct answer for the number of Lok Sabha seats from Punjab.

Verification / Alternative check:
During general elections, news coverage and electoral maps often mention that Punjab has 13 Lok Sabha seats while neighbouring Haryana has 10 and Himachal Pradesh has 4. Remembering these clusters of numbers can help you verify your answer quickly.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A (2) is wrong because it underestimates the representation of Punjab and is not associated with any major State.Option C (20) is wrong because 20 seats belong to other States such as Kerala, not to Punjab.Option D (25) is wrong because it exceeds Punjab's actual allocation and does not match official figures.

Common Pitfalls:
Examinees sometimes confuse the number of seats of Punjab with those of other States, especially when options contain numbers also used by neighbouring regions. Another mistake is to assume that all medium sized States have the same number of seats. To avoid such errors, revise a simple table of States and their seat allocations before sitting for the exam, paying special attention to frequently asked States such as Punjab, Kerala, Bihar and Gujarat.

Final Answer:
Correct answer: 13