Correct Option
The correct option is (a).
Explanation
The 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendment Acts of 1992 established a constitutional framework for Panchayati Raj Institutions and Municipalities, respectively. These Acts contain both mandatory (compulsory) and voluntary (discretionary) provisions regarding the composition and reservation of seats in local bodies.
Statement-wise Analysis
- Statement 1 is Correct: Under Article 243D(6) and Article 243T(6), the Constitution empowers State Legislatures to make provisions for the reservation of seats in any Panchayat or Municipality in favor of backward class of citizens. Unlike the mandatory reservation for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs), reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) is voluntary and left to the discretion of the State Legislature.
- Statement 2 is Incorrect: Since the reservation for OBCs is a voluntary provision, it is not uniform across India. Different states have enacted different legislations regarding the quantum and nature of reservation for OBCs based on local demographics and state policies.
- Statement 3 is Incorrect: Articles 243D and 243T mandate that not less than one-third (including the number of seats reserved for women belonging to the SCs and STs) of the total number of seats to be filled by direct election in every Panchayat and Municipality shall be reserved for women. Many states have increased this quota to 50%, but the constitutional minimum is one-third.
Key Takeaway: While reservation for SCs, STs, and Women in local bodies is a mandatory constitutional provision, reservation for Backward Classes (OBCs) is a voluntary provision dependent on the discretion of the State Legislature.