Correct answer: (b) 2 only
Explanation
- A
1 and 3 only
(a) 1 and 3 only. Statement 1 is false: the single largest opposition party in the first Lok Sabha (1952) was the Communist Party of India, not the Swatantra Party, which was founded in 1959 and peaked later. Statement 3 is also false: recognition as Leader of the Opposition requires 10 percent of the House strength (55 in a 545-member Lok Sabha), not 75 members. A pairing of two wrong statements cannot be the key.
- B
2 only
(b) 2 only. (b) Official key: After the 1969 Congress split, Ram Subhag Singh was recognised as the first Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha. Statement 1 fails because Swatantra was not the first-Lok-Sabha opposition; statement 3 fails because the 10 percent rule, not a 75-member floor, governs recognition. Only statement 2 stands, so this letter is the key.
- C
2 and 3 only
(c) 2 and 3 only. Statement 2 is right, but statement 3 misstates the numerical test for LoP recognition. The Salary and Allowances of Leaders of Opposition in Parliament Act, 1977, and Speaker practice use one-tenth of the House, not 75. Adding a wrong third statement keeps this code off the key.
- D
1, 2 and 3
(d) 1, 2 and 3. This treats all three as true. The first-Lok-Sabha opposition claim and the 75-member rule are both incorrect, so the all-correct code is not the key.
Summary. Official key is (b) 2 only. The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha was first recognised in 1969 after the Congress split. Swatantra Party did not lead the opposition in the first Lok Sabha; CPI did. Recognition needs about 10 percent of membership, not 75 MPs. Honour the stored letter (b).
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