Consider the following statements : 1. In the first Lok Sabha, the single largest party in the opposition was the Swatantra Party. 2. In the Lok Sabha, a "Leader of the Opposition" was recognised for the first time in 1969. 3. In the Lok Sabha, if a party does not have a minimum of 75 members, its leader cannot be recognised as the Leader of the Opposition. Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

(a) 1 and 3 only
(b) 2 only ✓ UPSC's answer
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Why the answer is (b)

• Statement 2 is correct: the Leader of the Opposition was first formally recognised in Lok Sabha in 1969 (Ram Subhag Singh, Congress-O); statutory recognition came with the Salary and Allowances of Leaders of Opposition Act, 1977.

• Statement 1 is wrong: in the first Lok Sabha (1952) the largest opposition party was the Communist Party of India with 16 seats; the Swatantra Party was founded only in 1959.

• Statement 3 is wrong: by convention and Speaker's Direction 121, a party needs at least one-tenth of the House's strength (55 of 545), not 75 members, for its leader to be recognised.

• Hence 2 only, option (b).

Why the other options are wrong

(a) 1 and 3 only: Statements 1 and 3 are wrong: CPI was the largest opposition and the threshold is 10%.
(c) 2 and 3 only: Statement 3 is wrong: the requirement is one-tenth of members.
(d) 1, 2 and 3: Statements 1 and 3 are wrong.

Asked in the GS Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2018, held on 3 June 2018. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.