With reference to the Lok Sabha, explain the following :

(a) What is its total membership?

(b) What are the qualifications of the members of the Lok Sabha?

(c) Who presides over the meetings of the Lok Sabha?

(a) The maximum strength of the Lok Sabha, as provided by the Constitution, is 550. However, the current strength of the Lok Sabha is 543.

(b) In order to seek election to the Lok Sabha, a person must possess the following qualifications:

1. He should be a citizen of India.
2. He should be at least 25 years old.
3. He should not be a proclaimed offender.
4. He should have his name in the electoral rolls in any part of the country.
5. He or she should possess such other qualifications as may be specified by Parliament from time to time.
6. He should not hold any office of profit under the State or Central Government.
7. He should not be of unsound mind.
8. He should not be an undischarged insolvent, i.e he should not be in debt.

(c) The Speaker of the Lok Sabha presides over the meetings of the Lok Sabha.