How many Lok Sabha (parliamentary) constituencies are there in the state of West Bengal?

Introduction / Context:

The Lok Sabha, or House of the People, is composed of members elected from various parliamentary constituencies across the states and union territories of India. Each state has a fixed number of seats based on its population, as determined by periodic delimitation exercises. Questions asking for the number of Lok Sabha seats in a particular state, such as West Bengal, are common in general knowledge and competitive examinations, especially those with a focus on Indian polity and current affairs.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question is specifically about Lok Sabha constituencies in West Bengal, not Rajya Sabha seats.
• We must identify the correct total number of such constituencies.
• Options include 42, 2, 14, 40, and 25, representing different possible totals.
• We assume the existing distribution of Lok Sabha seats after the latest delimitation used in examinations.

Concept / Approach:

West Bengal is a populous state in eastern India and has a significant representation in the Lok Sabha. The state has been allocated 42 Lok Sabha constituencies. This figure is stable until a fresh delimitation exercise changes the seat distribution. Other numbers in the options either correspond to smaller states or are arbitrary distractors. Remembering approximate seat counts for major states like Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Bihar, and Tamil Nadu can help in eliminating wrong choices quickly.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:

To verify, you can recall that in discussions of major states, Uttar Pradesh is known for having 80 seats, Maharashtra around 48, and West Bengal 42. These figures are commonly repeated during general elections in media coverage. Another approach is to remember that West Bengal is more populous than states with around 25 or fewer seats, so its allocation must be higher. This reasoning supports the choice of 42 as the correct total.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

The number 2 is clearly incorrect and applies only to very small union territories or states. Fourteen and twenty five also underestimate the representation of a populous state like West Bengal. The number 40, although close, does not match the officially recognised count and is simply a distractor designed to confuse those who remember only an approximate figure. Therefore, all options other than 42 are incorrect.

Common Pitfalls:

Candidates sometimes confuse the numbers of Lok Sabha seats, Rajya Sabha seats, and assembly constituencies for a state. Another frequent error is to round off or guess when they remember only approximate values. To avoid this, it is useful to memorise exact Lok Sabha seat counts for major states and cross check them with population based intuition. West Bengal's count of 42 is one of these key figures.

Final Answer:

The state of West Bengal has 42 Lok Sabha (parliamentary) constituencies.