Previous Year Question

Article 81(1) of the Constitution provides for the composition of the Lok Sabha. It permits not more than 530 members chosen by direct election from the States and not more than 20 members to represent the Union Territories. Therefore, the constitutional maximum asked in the question is 20.

The manner of choosing representatives of the Union Territories is determined by Parliament by law. The question asks for the maximum representation permitted by the Constitution, not the actual number of Union Territory seats at a particular time; hence changes in the actual allocation do not alter this answer.

The limit of 20 is connected with the 31st Constitutional Amendment Act, 1973, which reduced the maximum representation of Union Territories under Article 81(1)(b) from 25 to 20.

Thus, the useful examination association is—Article 81 → Lok Sabha composition → States maximum 530 → Union Territories maximum 20.