According to the Constitution of India, what is the maximum possible number of members in the Lok Sabha (House of the People)?

Introduction / Context:

The Lok Sabha, or House of the People, is the lower house of the Parliament of India. While the current actual strength of the Lok Sabha is 543 elected members, the Constitution specifies a maximum possible strength, including elected members from states and union territories and nominated members if any. Exam questions often test whether you know this maximum constitutional limit, not just the present actual strength. This question asks for that maximum number as laid down in the Constitution.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The subject is the maximum possible number of Lok Sabha members under the Constitution.
• Options include 512, 542, 552, 532, and 550.
• We assume the framework before subsequent amendments removed certain nominated seats but retained the original maximum structure in many textbooks.

Concept / Approach:

Article 81 of the Constitution originally provided that the Lok Sabha shall not have more than 552 members, with up to 530 representatives of the states, up to 20 from the union territories, and up to 2 nominated members from the Anglo Indian community. Although the 104th Constitutional Amendment removed the provision for nominating Anglo Indian members, traditional examination questions often refer to the classic maximum figure of 552 specified in the constitutional scheme. Therefore, you should know that 552 has been the standard maximum number associated with the Lok Sabha in constitutional discussions.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:

You can verify by remembering the common mnemonic that Lok Sabha maximum is 552, which is often taught as 550 members chosen and 2 nominated. Although the English wording in current constitutional texts has been updated in relation to the nominated seats, competitive examinations still commonly ask about the traditional maximum figure of 552 derived from the original Article 81. Checking standard polity textbooks confirms that 552 is repeatedly cited as the constitutional maximum strength of the Lok Sabha.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

The numbers 512, 542, 532, and 550 are either arbitrary or incomplete combinations of state and union territory seats. For example, 550 would correctly represent the sum of elected members from states and union territories, but it leaves out the nominated component that used to be part of the maximum scheme. Similarly, 542 and 532 do not match the constitutional breakdown described in Article 81. Therefore, none of these alternatives correctly captures the full maximum possible size of the Lok Sabha as originally provided.

Common Pitfalls:

A common confusion arises between the actual present strength of the Lok Sabha and the maximum number sanctioned by the Constitution. Many students recall that 543 members are currently elected but then mistakenly choose 542 or 550 as the maximum. Another pitfall is to forget the contribution of nominated members. To avoid this, always separate the concepts of actual current strength and constitutional maximum, and remember the classic formula 530 plus 20 plus 2 equals 552.

Final Answer:

According to the constitutional scheme, the maximum possible number of members in the Lok Sabha is 552.