Consider the following statements regarding the ‘Gram Sabha’ and reservation provisions in Panchayati Raj Institutions:
- Gram Sabha is the foundational unit of the Panchayati Raj system, consisting of all adult voters of the village.
- In Panchayat, it is mandatory to reserve seats for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in proportion to their population.
- Reserving the post of Chairperson for women in Panchayats depends on the discretion of the State Government; it is not mandatory.
- It is constitutionally mandatory to hold new elections before the five-year term of the Panchayats expires.
Which of the above statements are correct?
Correct answer: A
Explanation
Statements 1, 2 and 4 are correct: the Gram Sabha is the body of all adult voters of a village, Article 243D mandates SC/ST reservation in proportion to population, and Article 243E requires fresh elections before the five-year term ends. Statement 3 is wrong because reserving the chairperson's post for women is not left to state discretion; at least one-third of chairperson offices are constitutionally reserved for women.