The maximum strength of the 'House of people' envisaged by the Constitution is:

The correct answer is 552 members.

Key Points

• The maximum strength of the Lok Sabha (House of the People) is 552 members, as envisaged by Article 81 of the Indian Constitution.
• Out of the 552 members, 530 members represent the states, 20 members represent the Union Territories, and 2 members are nominated by the President from the Anglo-Indian community (this provision was abolished by the 104th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2019).
• The current strength of the Lok Sabha is 543 elected members, with the Anglo-Indian nomination no longer applicable.
• The maximum number is determined to ensure proportional representation based on population size and administrative divisions.
• The composition and strength of the Lok Sabha can be altered by constitutional amendments or parliamentary legislation.

Additional Information

• Article 81 of the Constitution: Specifies the composition of the Lok Sabha and its maximum strength.
• Anglo-Indian Representation: The provision for Anglo-Indian representation was removed by the 104th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2019.
• Election Process: Lok Sabha members are directly elected by the people through general elections based on universal adult suffrage.
• Term Duration: The Lok Sabha has a term of five years, unless dissolved earlier.
• Delimitation: The allocation of seats and territorial constituencies for Lok Sabha elections is managed through delimitation, which is based on the population as per the last census.