Correct Option (d):
The Constitution (98th Amendment) Act, 2012, inserted Article 371J into the Indian Constitution. This amendment provides special provisions for the Hyderabad-Karnataka region (now known as Kalyana Karnataka). The objective is to ensure equitable development and opportunities for the people of this region. Key provisions include:
- Establishment of a separate Development Board for the region.
- Equitable allocation of funds for regional development.
- Reservation in educational institutions and government employment for residents of the region.
Incorrect Options:
Option (a): The power for the Centre to levy and appropriate service tax was introduced by the Constitution (88th Amendment) Act, 2003. This amendment inserted Article 268A, which was later repealed with the introduction of Goods and Services Tax (GST).
Option (b): The Constitution (99th Amendment) Act, 2014, established the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) for the appointment of judges to the higher judiciary. However, the Supreme Court of India subsequently declared this amendment unconstitutional.
Option (c): The Constitution (84th Amendment) Act, 2001, froze the readjustment of electoral constituencies and the allocation of Lok Sabha seats to states based on the 1971 Census figures until the first census after 2026. While delimitation is based on census data, the 98th Amendment does not pertain to this.