The correct option is 1 and 3 only.
Explanation
The Constitution of India, under Part XVI (Special Provisions Relating to Certain Classes), provides for the reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) in the Lok Sabha (Article 330) and State Legislative Assemblies (Article 332). These provisions aim to ensure adequate political representation for historically disadvantaged communities.
Statement 1 is Correct:
Article 334 of the Constitution originally stipulated that the reservation of seats for SCs and STs, as well as the special representation of the Anglo-Indian community by nomination, would cease to have effect on the expiration of a period of ten years from the commencement of the Constitution (i.e., by 1960). However, this period has been extended continuously by various Constitutional Amendment Acts. Most recently, the 104th Constitutional Amendment Act (2019) extended the reservation for SCs and STs for another ten years, until 2030.
Statement 2 is Incorrect:
The number of seats reserved for SCs and STs is not decided arbitrarily. It is determined strictly on the basis of the proportion of their population to the total population of the State or Union Territory, as mandated by Articles 330 and 332. Furthermore, the task of identifying specific constituencies for reservation and fixing the number of seats is performed by the Delimitation Commission (appointed under an Act of Parliament), not unilaterally or arbitrarily by the Election Commission. The Delimitation Commission uses the latest Census data to allocate these seats.
Statement 3 is Correct:
The Constitution explicitly provides for the reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the House of the People (Lok Sabha) under Article 330 and in the Legislative Assemblies of the States under Article 332. This reservation is based on the population ratios in the respective constituencies.
Key Takeaway:
Reservation in legislatures is a constitutional mandate based on population proportion, not arbitrary decision-making. While originally intended for 10 years (Article 334), it has been extended periodically by Parliament through Constitutional Amendments.