Polls have opened as India embarks upon the world’s largest general election.

Around 900 million people are eligible to vote in the seven-phase process that will last over six weeks.

The first round of voting begins this morning with 91 constituencies in 20 states and regions taking to the ballot box.

There are some 543 parliamentary seats up for grabs in total.

Voting will continue until May 19th with results expected four days later on May 23rd.

An Indian voter verifies his name in the voters' list at a polling station in the southern city of Hyderabad, India, 11-04-2019. Image: Zhao Xu/Xinhua News Agency/PA Images

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been tipped to come out on top with his Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) amid heightened security concerns.

Mr Modi has increased his popularity by taking a tough stance against Pakistan following aerial clashes between the neighbouring countries in February.

There has also been unrest in Kashmir – with seven people killed in militant attacks there and in the east of the country on Tuesday.

India's opposition Congress party leader Sonia Gandhi waves to the crowd as she arrives to file her nomination papers in Rae Bareli, Uttar Pradesh, India, 11-04-2019. Image: AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh

Meanwhile, the main opposition Congress Party has garnered support by criticising the government over high unemployment rates.

A number of opinion polls have put the BJP in a strong position with an expected 273 seats.

That would give the party a three-seat majority – down on the 21 seat majority it won in 2014.

More than 142 million Indians are eligible to vote today, with the second phase scheduled for 18 April.