Who served as the Speaker of the 16th Lok Sabha in India (2014–2019)?

Introduction / Context:
The Speaker of the Lok Sabha is a key constitutional authority in India, responsible for presiding over the lower house of Parliament and ensuring orderly conduct of business. For examination purposes, it is important to know who held this position during different Lok Sabha terms. The 16th Lok Sabha covered the period from 2014 to 2019, and the question asks you to identify its Speaker.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The term in question is the 16th Lok Sabha (2014–2019).
• Options include M. Venkaiah Naidu, Sumitra Mahajan, Pocharam Srinivas Reddy, and Madhusudanachari.
• Only one of these persons served as the Speaker of the Lok Sabha during this term.
• Other names may hold important offices but not this specific one.

Concept / Approach:
This is a political and constitutional awareness question. Sumitra Mahajan, a senior parliamentarian, was elected Speaker of the 16th Lok Sabha and served throughout its tenure. M. Venkaiah Naidu became Vice President of India and Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, while Pocharam Srinivas Reddy and Madhusudanachari are associated with state legislative assemblies. The approach is to distinguish between national and state level presiding officers and recall that Sumitra Mahajan was the Lok Sabha Speaker for the period mentioned.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Focus on the phrase “Speaker of the 16th Lok Sabha”. Step 2: Recall that after the 2014 general elections, Sumitra Mahajan was elected as the Speaker of the Lok Sabha. Step 3: Check the options and find Sumitra Mahajan listed as Option B. Step 4: Remember that M. Venkaiah Naidu served as Vice President and ex officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, a different role. Step 5: Select Sumitra Mahajan as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, recall that news coverage from the 16th Lok Sabha often referred to “Speaker Sumitra Mahajan” while reporting on parliamentary proceedings. M. Venkaiah Naidu's name appears in connection with the Rajya Sabha, and Pocharam Srinivas Reddy and Madhusudanachari are linked to the Telangana Legislative Assembly. This role based identification clearly confirms that Sumitra Mahajan was the Speaker of the Lok Sabha during 2014–2019.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
M. Venkaiah Naidu: Served as Vice President of India and Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, not as Speaker of the Lok Sabha, making this option incorrect.
Pocharam Srinivas Reddy: A political leader from Telangana associated with positions in the state assembly rather than the national Lok Sabha speakership.
Madhusudanachari: Also linked with the Telangana Legislative Assembly and not with the post of Lok Sabha Speaker.

Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is to confuse various presiding officers, such as the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, and Speakers of state assemblies. Another pitfall is selecting very familiar national names without checking their exact roles. To avoid such errors, remember that Sumitra Mahajan was the Speaker of the 16th Lok Sabha, while M. Venkaiah Naidu functioned as the Rajya Sabha Chairman during part of the same period.

Final Answer:
Sumitra Mahajan