The correct option is 1 and 3 only
Explanation
The question pertains to the composition and election method of the Constituent Assembly of India, which was constituted in November 1946 under the scheme formulated by the Cabinet Mission Plan. The Assembly was a partly elected and partly nominated body.
Statement-wise Analysis:
- Statement 1 is Correct: The representatives from the British Indian Provinces were not chosen directly by the people. Instead, they were elected by the members of the Provincial Legislative Assemblies (who were themselves elected on a limited franchise). The method of election used was Proportional Representation by means of the Single Transferable Vote (PR-STV).
- Statement 2 is Incorrect: The representatives from the Princely States were not elected (neither directly nor indirectly). They were nominated by the heads of the respective Princely States. Consequently, the Single Transferable Vote system applied only to the elections for the seats allocated to British Indian Provinces.
- Statement 3 is Correct: The system of Proportional Representation by means of Single Transferable Vote is specifically designed to ensure that diverse groups and minority views are represented in proportion to their voting strength. In the Constituent Assembly, seats were allocated to three main communities-Muslims, Sikhs, and General-in proportion to their population, and the voting method ensured fair representation for these communities.
Key Takeaway:
The Constituent Assembly was formed via indirect election for British Provinces (using PR-STV) and nomination for Princely States. It was not a directly elected body.